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REV.    LOUIS    FITZGERALD    BENSON.  D.  D. 

BEQUEATHED    BY    HIM   TO 

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PRINCETON   THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY 


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THE  JOURNAL    OF 
THE    REV.    JOHN    WESLEY,   A.M. 


v    /  V    /// 


./A  /, 


THE   JOURNAL 


OF    THE     REV. 


JOHN   WESLEY,   A.M. 

SOMETIME    FELLOW    OK    LINCOLN   COLLEGE,   OXFORD 


ENLARGED    FROM    ORIGINAL   MSS.,    WITH    NOTES 
FROM    UNPUBLISHED    DIARIES,   ANNOTA- 
TIONS, MAPS,  AND  ILLUSTRATIONS 


EDITED    BY 

NEHEMIAH    CURNOCK 


ASSISTED   BY    EXPERTS 


STANDARD   EDITION 
Vol.  IV 


NEW     YORK:     EATON     &     MAINS 
CINCINNATI  :    JENNINGS  &  GRAHAM 


Several  of  the  illustrations  accompanying  this  volume  have 

keen    reproduced  from  photographs   taken   by  the 

Rev.  Nehemiah  Curnock,  and  others  are 

inserted  through    the    courtesy    of 

friends    and   of  the    Wesley 

Historical  Society. 


CONTENTS 

PART   THE    NINTH 

Issued  in    1759 

PAGE 

FROM    NOVEMBER    2,    1751,   TO   OCTOBER    28,    1754     .  .  3 

Reply  to  Bishop  Lavington — An  Ex-Moravian — An  Interlude  — 
Journey  North — John  Bennet's  Renunciation — West  Riding — 
Epworth — Persecution  at  Hull — North  Riding — Northumbria 
— The  Dales — Whitehaven — Lancashire — Chester — Ireland — 
Philip  Embury  and  Barbara  Ruckle — First  Irish  Conference — 
Thomas  Walsh — Cork  to  Bristol — Sermon  Register — Ministry 
in  London— Northern  Journey — Remarkable  Cases — Return 
to  London — Walsh  preaches  in  Irish — Isle  of  Wight,  Cornwall, 
South  Wales,  Somerset.  Wilts,  and  Gloucestershire— Bedford 
to  Canterbury — Illness  —  Notes  on  the  Netu  Testament  — 
Convalescence — Sir  James  Lowther. 

PART    THE   TENTH 

Issued  in    1761  :   another  edition   176S 

FROM    FEBRUARY    16,    17$$,  TO   JUNE    16,    1758  .  .       IO/ 

The  Midlands — Yorkshire— The  Leeds  Conference — Scotland — 
A  Strange  Phenomenon — York  and  Sheffield — Review  of  the 
Work — Norwich — Virginia — The  Covenant  Service— Cornwall 
and  the  West — London  and  Essex — Public  Affairs — Kent — 
Political  Unrest — Howell  Harris  at  Trevecca — Ireland— North 
Wales — The  Thirteenth  Conference — Rules  of  the  Bands  and 
of  Kingswood  School — John  Fletcher — The  Mayor  of  Bedford 
— Wednesbury — Liverpool — Judith  Beresford — Huddersfield, 
Wakefield,  Birstall,  Heptonstall — Grimshaw— Cumberland — 
Dr.  Gillies  and  Glasgow — Tyneside — Yarm,  Osmotherley, 
Helmsley — Lincolnshire  and  Leicestershire — The  Fourteenth 
Conference  —  Western  Journey  —  Public  Fast  —  Return  to 
Ireland. 


vi  C ati  tents 

PART   THE    ELEVENTH 

Issued  in    ,764  pAGR 

FROM   JUNE    17,    1758,   TO   MAY    5,    1760      .  .  .  .275 

Ireland— Fifteenth  Conference — Wales— Story  of  a  Siege — Taber- 
nacle at  Norwich— Everton— Evangelical  Leaders  at  Lady 
Huntingdon's — Foundery  at  Norwich — Mr.  Cudworth — Boston, 
The  Fens,  and  the  Wolds— Baron  Dykern — York  Castle — 
Magistrates  of  Manchester — Cheshire— Millom  Sands — Scot- 
land— Everton  Revival — Pleasant  Town  of  Newcastle— Colliers 
at  Gateshead—'  Original  Sin ' — North  and  West  Ridings- 
Work  near  Everton— Sir  Nevil  Hickman's  Hall— Sixteenth 
Conference  —  West  Street  —  French  Prisoners  at  Knowle  — 
General  Thanksgiving — A  Chancery  Bill — East  Anglia— Ex- 
periences—A  Mountain  Journey  —  Liverpool  to  Ireland — The 
Carrickfergus  Raid. 

PART   THE   TWELFTH 

[ssued  in    1767 

FROM    MAY   6,    1760,   TO   OCTOBER    28,    1 762         .  .  .      388 

Ireland — Seventeenth  Conference— Cornwall— London  Chronicle — 
Kingswood — Newgate,  Bristol— Death  of  George  II — Lloyd's 
Evening  Post — Colchester,  Norwich,  and  Yarmouth — Hicks 
and  Berridge — Pastoral  Work  in  London — Oxford  and  Eve- 
sham— Birmingham— Shrewsbury — Bilbrook  and  Burslem — 
Northern  Societies— Aberdeen  Ministers  and  Professors — 
Edinburgh — Societies  in  the  Dales — Stokesley  and  Guis- 
borough — Grimshavv  and  Christian  Perfection — Explanation 
with  Mr.  Venn — Bristol  and  Kingswood— London  and  Canter- 
bury— The  Society  at  Norwich — Sir  Thomas  I'Anson — Shrop- 
shire— Death  of  Grimshaw—  Ireland — Through  Cheshire  to 
London — Cornwall  and  the  West. 

PART   THE   THIRTEENTH 

[ssued  in   1768 
FROM    OCTOBER   29,    1 762,   TO    MAY    25,    1765       .  .  .      535 

The  Maxfield  Controversy — Jane  Cooper  — Reply  to  Bishop  War- 
burton.     (Continued  in  next  volume.) 

NOTES 
On  the  Sermon  Register   ....... 

On  the  Relation  of  Methodism  to  the  Church  of  England  106 

On  Wesley's  Veterans       .....  .  274 

On  Wesley's  Isolation       ........  3^3 

On  Wesley's  Influence  upon  National  History  .  .  386 

On  Christian  Perfection     ......••  534 


LIST   OF    ILLUSTRATIONS 

the  rf.v.   samuel  weslev,   m.a.  ....  Frontispiece 

I'AGE 
AN       EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY       MAP      OF      IRELAND,      ILLUSTRATING 

Lesley's   itineraries Facing  page  i 

LETTER   OF  THE    REV.  SAMUEL  WESLEY   TO   HIS    SON   JOHN    BEFORE 

HIS    ORDINATION Vlii 

FACSIMILE   OF   THE    AGREEMENT   OF   JANUARY    29,    1752  .  9 

TWO   OF    THE    EARLIEST    ENTRIES    IN    THE    OSMOTHERLEY    SOCIETY 

BOOK 25 

wesley's  electrical  machine 49 

typical  open-air  preaching-places  of  wesley:     i.  oxwich  ; 
2.  bolton  cross  j  3.  the  old  horse-block,  high  bullen, 
wednesbury         .......  -57 

bonner's  hall;  zoar  chapel,  southwark       ....     127 

THOMAS    WALSH    ......  ...       l8l 

'THE   CABBAGE   GARDEN,'   DUBLIN l8l 

the  parish  church,  haworth  j  the  old  parsonage,  haworth  j 

william  grimshaw  ;  grimshaw's  pulpit  ....  213 
specimen  page  of  the  sermon  register         .         .         .         .225 

early  plan  of  the  lqndon  circuit 293 

facsimile  of  michael  fenwick's  expulsion  ....  293 
the  old  hall  of  sir    nevil    hickman,   gainsborough  ;   the 

rev.  john  berridge  ;  everton  church  ....  345 
exterior  of  whitefriar  street  chapel,  dublin  j  st.  mary's 

church,  dublin 375 

pulpit    in    st.    Paul's,    Bedford,    from    which    the    'great 

assize  sermon  '  was  preached 403 

st.  Paul's  church,  Bedford     .  .....     403 

cottage  preaching-places:  francis  ward's  cottage,  bridge 

street,   wednesbury  \    interior  and  exterior    of  john 

Clarke's   cottage    at  oxwich  ......     443 

specimen  page  of  a  manuscript  hymn-book  used  by  wesley  453 
the  octagon  chapel,  rotherham  ;   interior  and  exterior 

of  new  bounds,  the  residence  of  the  l'anson  family  .  487 
james  herveyj  vincent  perronet ;  william  roma1ne  ;  henry 

VENN    .  .  . 511 

vii 


Tippet,  iflrtf  «t  J tatt-pyif-etU  nrfh.u  <h>rt<T  3L4Au^ru  THrd 
V-tpfo  Seu*i04,  jtrvh-  3jt  jjluun  J>ny  hum,  Chr  ofrv?^wtL>ft*r 

eufisTrVOnrdt,  {n-hvu<n  f^Aj  J-J&hnajb,  xo  »n*,^  t/t&Cfhtt 
JU  n<n^ft^Sh^ugUn$^*i«{  Jirtf  for  J'ufx,  CTh^t  S^yeus 

$ Lvfzruf]  yfa.ij  erf-  U9viri4ci*iy  &^ Oi^yucriffj  &- yjf-rruiff. 
Jay  fan  a.  UtCLr  a^ayitL  ernj..  Jii .  Wia4s  J)  UvHv  /^^5<W- 
en-  c^  Jbv+imj  w  ■£> a.  J^/ylf/-,  fir-  £ntf»</iast  :'7DT?M- 
nriiL  trviH  JliAnWeim,   In]  A-v  won  Jh+Muu> ,AJa/v*, ^ 

JteT    c£*r  i^hrUn  fh«  ScyU*'*  <*""*£* l£ 
J)  est**-   flsytjwy  Jm. . 

LETTER    OF    THE    REV.  SAMUEL    WESLEY  (see    FRONTISPIECE)  TO    HIS    SON    JOHN, 
BEFORE    HIS    ORDINATION. 


2lfade/rvm  Adita/   Surreys 
by 


■  /'///-for  &c-' t_/ former. 


1r*y  /?*£' M/Zi*:  Xf4*  /1* 


AM«U  ,#/  die  Jfjt tit-Mi'  UtFn  f  17  78 

AN    EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY    MAP   OF   IRELAND.   ILLUSTRATING   WESLEY'S   ITINERARIES. 


PART   THE    NINTH 
THE    JOURNAL 

FROM    NOVEMBER    2,    1751,    TO   OCTOBER    28,    1754 


VOL.  IV 


In  the  Colman  Collection  is  a  Sermon  Register  and 
tnanuscript  hymn-book  which  Wesley  used  from  1747  to 
1 762.  The  earlier  entries  in  the  Register  are  in  the  hand- 
writing oj  a  secretary  ;  the  later  entries  Wesley  has  tnade 
himself.  A  study  of  the  Register  reveals  interesting  facts. 
I.  On  his  journeys,  Wesley  took  with  him  a  collection  of 
sermons  and  expository  notes.  2.  He  did  not  win  pulpit 
popularity  on  the  strength  of  a  comparatively  small  hand- 
ful of  sermons.  Certain  sermons  useful  as  manifestoes, 
as  expositions  of  doctrine,  or  as  means  oj  effectual  appeal, 
were  preached  frequently.  But  these  were  supplemented 
by  a  large  number  of  sermons  neiu  or  newly  remade.  In 
this  Register  he  has  summarized  the  preaching  of  fifteen 
years  thus  :  The  services  held  are  grouped  in  forty-three 
sets  varying  from  40  to  234  services  in  each,  giving  a 
total  of  sermons  preached  between  1747  andlj6l.  A  pencil 
note, partly  obliterated,  analyses  the  texts :  Old  Testament, 
266;  New  Testament,  1,088 — a  total  oj  1,354.  3.  The 
Journal  minimizes  the  actual  work  done.  He  preached 
on  every  possible  occasion,  and  never  held  a  society-class 
or  band-meeting  without  an  exposition.  The  Journal 
says  '  Preached.'  We  compare  the  date  in  the  Register, 
and  find  three  texts  or  more,  the  explanation  being  that 
he  stayed  the  night,  preaching  on  arrival,  in  the  evening, 
expounding  in  a  society-meeting,  preaching  at  five  the 
following  morning,  and  again  in  the  open  air  before 
leaving.  The  earliest  entries  in  the  year  1752  may  be 
quoted  in  illustration.  On  Wednesday,  fan.  1,  he 
was  at  West  Street,  and  used  twelve  texts.  Even  if  we 
assume  that  '  Wed.  Jan.  I , '  in  the  Register,  also  covers 
Thursday  and  Friday,  it  is  a  fair  amount  of  preach- 
ing for  a  delicate  man  in  the  depth  of  a  bitter 
winter.  Saturday  he  devotes  to  Snowsfields  with  nine 
texts  ;  Sunday,  Jan.  5,  to  Spitalfields  with  six;  Mon- 
day to  the  Foundery  with  eleven.  It  is  evident  that 
Wesley  did  not  limit  his  visitation  of  societies  to  the 
quarterly  renewal  of  tickets,  and  that  he  never  visited  a 
class  without  expounding  the  Scriptures.  Probably  also 
pastoral  visitation  in  the  homes  of  members  was  accom- 
panied by  exposition . 


THE   JOURNAL 
From  November  2,    1 75 1 ,  to  October  28,    1754 

1751.     Nov.    2,    Sat. — Mr.    Arvin,   according    to  my  desire, 

informed  Mr.   M that  I   was  willing  to  give  him    twenty 

pounds  a  year  for  assisting  me  once  a  week.  He  refused  it  with 
the  utmost  indignation,  and  from  that  time  spoke  all  manner 
of  evil.1 

Mon.  11. — I  rode  to  Rochester,2  and  the  next  day  to  Canter- 
bury, where  I  preached,  morning  and  evening,  in  what  was  lately 
the  French  church.3  We  had  not  any  disturbance  from  first  to 
last,  the  Court  of  King's  Bench  having  broke  the  spirits  of  the 
rioters. 

Sat.  16. — I  set  out  early  in  a  clear,  calm  morning,  and  in  the 
afternoon  came  to  London.4 

Tues.  19. — I  began  writing  a  letter  to  the  Comparer  of  the 
Papists  and  Methodists.5     Heavy  work,  such  as  I  should  never 


1  '  Sun.    Nov.    3,    Spitalfields '    (five  s  Canterbury  Cathedral  gave  the  hos- 

sermons  or  expositions).     This  was  not  pitality  of  its  crypt  to  French  Protestant 

the  '  Eglise  Neuve,  Church  Street,'  the  refugees    from     very    early    times.       A 

lease  of  which  afterwards  came  into  the  Huguenot    service    is    still    held    there, 

possession  of  the  Methodists,  but  another  A    French    church,    using    the   English 

'dissolved'    French    church.       In    the  Liturgy,  met  in  the  'Malthouse.'     This 

Registrar-General's  Lists  six  (additional  may  have  been  the  church  of  which  for 

to  Church  Street)  are  named.     This  does  a  while  Edward  Perronet  became  pastor, 

not  exhaust  the  eighteenth-century  list  ot  and    in  which  Wesley  preached  on  this 

French  Protestant  congregations  in  Spital-  occasion.     The  Perronets  were  a  Hugue- 

fields.      There  is  reason  to  believe  that  not  family. 

through  the  Religious  Societies,  or  by  the  '  'Sun.   Nov.   17,  The  Foundery  '  (6 

temporary  occupancy  of  disused  or  par-  texts). 

tially  used    buildings,  early  Methodism  •  Dr.    George    Lavington,    bishop   ot 

came  into  close  contact  with  the  Huguenot  Exeter  (1683-1762),  was  one  of  Wesley's 

exiles  or  their  descendants  in  both  East  bitterest  opponents.     Bishop  Lavington's 

and  West  London.  Enthusiasm  of  Methodists  and  Papists 

-   In  the  Sermon  Register  there  is  no  Compared  was  published  in  three  parts 

record  of  preaching  during  this  journey  —1749-51— and     republished      in     two 

at  Rochester,  Chatham,  or  Brompton.  volumes.     '  Enthusiasm  '  was  the  stand- 


John   Wesley  s  Journal 


rDec.  1751. 


choose ;  but  sometimes  it  must  be  done.  Well  might  the 
ancient  say,  '  God  made  practical  divinity  necessary,  the  devil 
controversial.'  But  it  is  necessary :  we  must  '  resist  the  devil,' 
or  he  will  not  '  flee  from  us.' 1 

DEC.  21,  Sat. — Being  informed  that  Mr.  K ,2  for  some 

years  zealously  attached  to  the  Brethren,  had  now  burst  his 
chain,  I  had  a  desire  to  hear,  from  his  own  mouth,  how  he  was 
delivered.  So  a  day  or  two  after  I  talked  with  him  at  large, 
and  wrote  down  the  substance  of  his  account,  that  I  might  make 


ing  libel  on  earnestness  and  spirituality 
in  religion.  To  brand  as  '  Papists '  was, 
in  that  age,  to  cry  '  Mad  dog  !  '  To 
prove  that  Methodist  clergymen  held 
Romanist  principles  was,  in  effect,  to 
prove  that  they  were  plotting  with  the 
enemies  of  their  country  for  the  restora- 
tion of  the  Stuarts  and  of  papal  domina- 
tion. Bishop  Lavington  must  have 
known  that  the  keynote  of  Methodist 
preaching  in  the  parishes  of  Shoreham 
and  Haworth,  of  Bexley  and  Great  St. 
Bartholomew's,  was  Justification  by  Faith 
—the  doctrine  of  the  Reformation,  of  the 
Thirty-nine  Articles,  of  the  Homilies, 
and  of  Wesley's  manifesto-sermon  in  St. 
Mary's,  Oxford.  No  doctrine  was  more 
absolutely  opposed  to  the  first  principles 
of  Romanism,  and  no  doctrine  more 
frequently  sounded  its  trumpet-note  in 
the  Foundery  and  the  Tabernacle. 
Bishop  Lavington's  attack  was  as  pre- 
posterous as  it  was  unfair.  Whitefield, 
Wesley,  Vincent  Perronet  and  others 
replied.  Wesley's  letters,  addressed 
directly  to  the  bishop  of  Exeter,  are 
included  in  the  Works,  vol.  ix.  See 
also  below,  p.  526  ;  W.H.S.  Proceedings, 
vol.  iv.  p.  79,  and  Green's  Wesley 
Bibliography,  pp.  67,  76  ;  also  Green's 
Anti-Methodist  Publications,  No.  213, 
&c.  Wesley's  letter  to  Bishop  Laving- 
ton, we  now  learn,  must  have  been 
written  in  his  Newington  retreat,  for  the 
Sermon  Register  shows  that  he  was  there 
on  Nov.  21,  also  on  Wednesday,  Nov.  27. 
See  also  W.H.S.  vol.  iii.  p.  23,  where 
the  Rev.  T.  E.  Brigden  shows  that  John 


Fursman,  Chancellor,  and  William  Hole, 
archdeacon,  accompanied  the  bishop  in 
his  visitation  to  Cornwall,  and  evidently 
busied  themselves  in  collecting  the  gar- 
bled tales  about  the  Methodists  and 
their  sayings  of  which  Lavington  made 
such  scurrilous  use. 

1  The  Sermon  Register  shows  he 
preached  as  follows:  'Sun.  Dec.  1, 
Snowsfields '  (8  texts) ;  '  Mon.  Dec.  2, 
Mill  Hill'  (10  texts);  'Mon.  Dec.  16, 
Chapel'  (West  Street,  6  texts)  ;  'Mon. 
23,  Westminster'  (2  texts)  ;  'Wed.  25, 
Spitalfields  '  (2  texts)  ;  '  Thur.  and  Fri. 
26  and  27,  Leigh,'  Essex  (4  texts).  In 
November  and  December  he  wrote  four 
letters  to  John  Downes  —  preacher, 
mathematician,  engraver,  printer — one 
of  Wesley's  intimate  friends.  The  letters 
{Works,  vol.  xii.  pp.  193-6)  incidentally 
flash  light  on  the  early  societies,  and 
on  Wesley's  personal  relations  with  his 
preachers. 

-  An  examination  of  the  Hutton  Lists 
of  Moravian  Brethren  strengthens  the 
belief  that  this  was  William  Peter 
Knolton  (fan-maker,  corner  of  Star  Alley, 
Fenchurch  Street),  described  as  '  an 
important  man,'  who  went  to  Pennsyl- 
vania and  then  left  the  Brethren.  Thomas 
M'Cullagh  had  no  doubt  as  to  the  identi- 
fication. He  suggested  the  omission  of 
the  whole  story  as  irrelevant  ;  but,  how- 
ever useless  the  account  may  be  in  itself, 
its  presence  in  the  text  illustrates  Wesley's 
attitude  (which  may  or  may  not  be  de- 
fensible) towards  the  Moravians,  an 
historical  note  that  cannot  be  ignored. 


Dec.  1751.  An  Ex- Moravian 


no  mistake.  After  a  few  days  I  called  upon  him  ;  I  read  over 
to  him  what  I  had  written,  and  desired  him  to  tell  me  if  I  had 
misunderstood  him  in  anything.  And  this  account  alone  may 
be  abundantly  sufficient  to  pull  off  the  mask  from  those  cruel 
and  deceitful  men.  I  do  not  speak  this  of  all,  but  of  them  with 
whom  he  had  to  do. 

i.  I  was  (said  he)  one  of  the  first  members  of  the  society  at  the 
Foundery  ;  and  continued  there  till  William  Oxlee,  about  the  latter  end 
of  the  year  1740,  persuaded  me  to  join  the  Brethren.  It  was  not  long 
before  I  was  admitted  to  most  of  their  Conferences,  and  my  love  for 
them  increased  more  and  more,  till,  in  the  year  1741,  I  went  over 
to  Heerendyk. 

2.  Here  I  saw  several  things  I  did  not  approve,  particularly  the 
arbitrary  power  with  which  the  heads  of  the  Church  governed,  and  the 
vast  respect  they  showed  to  the  rich,  while  the  poor  were  little  regarded; 
but  I  forgot  all  this  when  I  returned  to  England,  and  gave  myself  up  to 
their  disposal. 

3.  I  was  soon  after  employed  to  collect  money  for  repairing  the 
chapel  in  Fetter  Lane.  The  manner  of  the  Brethren  was,  to  write 
to  each  of  those  who  were  accustomed  to  hear  the  preaching,  and  desire 
them,  if  they  found  their  hearts  free,  to  send  five  or  ten  guineas.  As 
many  of  these  were  not  at  all  awakened,  I  thought  this  was  quite  wrong. 
So  I  told  Mr.  M[olther] ;  but  he  answered  me  short,  '  That  does  not 
concern  you.' 

4.  I  saw  several  other  things  which  I  could  not  approve  ;  and  I  spoke 
of  them,  but  without  effect.  Some  months  after,  Mr.  Sp[angenberg] 
told  me,  '  My  brother,  we  are  going  to  settle  an  economy  of  children  at 
Lamb's  Inn  * ;  and  it  is  the  Saviour's  will  that  you  should  go  there  and 
be  the  physician  of  the  house.'  I  thought  it  strange,  for  I  did  not 
understand  physic.     However,  I  did  not  dare  to  reason ;  so  I  went. 

5.  The  management  here  gave  me  a  great  shock.  Without  any 
regard  to  the  rules  laid  down,  R[ichard]  U[tleyJ  and  his  wife,  the 
directors  of  the  economy,  behaved  in  the  most  haughty  and  tyrannical 
manner.2  Those  who  were  set  over  the  children  had  no  gifts  for  the 
work,  and  some  of  them  little  care  for  their  own  souls.  Several  of  the 
children  were  whipped  without  cause,  and  sometimes  out  of  measure  ; 
by  which  ill  management,  one  of  mine  was  utterly  ruined,  and  has  had 
no  fear  of  God  ever  since.     As  for  me,  I  might  give  advice  if  I  would  ; 


'  A     Moravian     hoarding  -  school    at  '  I  Ie  married  a  widow  who,  before  her 

Broad     Oaks,      in    Essex,    chiefly     for  first  marriage,  was  Hutton's  maid-servant 

children   of   members    of    the    London  (Sarah   Morgan).     Mr.  and   Mrs.    Uiley 

Society  (Memoirs  of  Hulton,  p.  88).  went  to  Pennsylvania. 


6  John   Wesley  s  Journal  roec.  1751. 

but  none  regarded  it.  And  when  I  rose  one  night  and  covered  the 
children,  who  had  thrown  the  clothes  off  in  their  sleep,  Mr.  U[tley] 
sharply  reproved  me  before  the  whole  family,  telling  me  I  had  done 
what  I  had  no  business  to  do,  adding  that  I  was  the  most  useless  person 
in  the  whole  house.  I  desired  that,  if  so,  I  might  return  to  London. 
With  much  difficulty  they  consented,  and  I  made  all  haste  back  to  my 
own  house. 

6.  But  I  grew  more  and  more  uneasy  at  their  management,  which, 
the  Brethren  perceiving,  sent  me  to  Yorkshire.  When  I  had  been  there 
a  few  days  one  of  them  told  me  I  was  to  go  to  Great  Horton  in  the 
morning,  it  being  made  out  to  the  Brethren  that  I  was  to  preach  there. 
I  was  amazed,  having  never  had  one  thought  of  preaching.  Yet  I  did 
not  dare  to  refuse,  and  from  that  time  they  employed  me  to  preach, 
and  to  visit  all  the  souls  through  that  circuit. 

7.  At  Holbeck  we  had  an  economy  of  young  men.  When  I  visited 
them,  and  examined  them  strictly,  they  declared  to  me  so  much  of  their 
onanism,  wh[oredo]ms,  and  other  abominations,  that  I  was  utterly 
astonished.  I  was  constrained  to  rebuke  them  sharply ;  for  which,  in 
a  few  days,  I  received  a  severe  letter  from  Mr.  Sp[angenberg],  telling  me 
I  was  destroying  God's  dear  children  instead  of  building  them  up  ;  and 
that  therefore  I  was  neither  to  preach  nor  labour  any  more  in  Yorkshire. 

8.  In  a  little  while  I  was  sent  for  to  London,  to  accompany  Mrs. 

St into  Germany ;  but  the  letter  being  delayed,  although  I    ode 

post,  she  was  gone  before  I  came.1  Some  time  after  I  was  appointed  a 
member  of  the  Committee  of  Six,  to  whom  an  account  was  to  be  trans- 
mitted by  all  the  Labourers  of  all  the  steps  which  they  took,  either  at 
home  or  abroad. 

One  of  our  fundamental  rules  was,  not  to  run  in  debt  above  thirty 
pounds  ;  therefore,  when  Mr.  Sp[angenberg]  brought  in  a  bill  of  more 
than  three  hundred,  I  was  exceedingly  startled,  and  moved  that  the 
particulars  of  it  might  be  given  in,  and  that  all  our  accounts  might  be 
clearly  and  fairly  stated.  AVenzel  Neisser,  being  present  (though  not 
one  of  our  members),  took  me  up  for  this  very  severely,  telling  me  they 
were  servants  of  the  Saviour,  and  would  give  no  account  to  men. 

9.  I  was  more  and  more  uneasy  at  their  way  of  proceeding  till,  one 
day,  Mr.  SI 2  came  to  me,  and  asked  me  if  I  was  willing  to  go  to 


1  Probably  Mrs.  Stonehouse,  who  was  book,  and    who  set  hymns  to  music— a 

at  Marienborn  in  1 743-4,  and  was  now  quaint,  shadowy,  scholarly  Brother  of  the 

a  deaconess  of  the  congregation  in  Ger-  Anglo-German    community  in  Kngland. 

many  (Memoirs  of  Hut  ion,  p.  230).  lie  probably  edited  the  1746  ed.  of  the 

-  This  probably  was  Mr.  Schlicht,  who  English  Moravian  book.      See  Index  of 

about  this  time  was  '  ordinary  or  pastor  '  1912  ed.     He  is  associated  with  Spangen- 

at  Lamb's  Hill,  several  of  whose  hymns  berg,  Toltschig,  Neisser,  and  Hutton  on 

are  in  the  first  English  Moravian  Hymn-  occasions  of  importance. 


Dec.  1751.]  An  Ex- Moravian 


Bedford  for  six  or  eight  days.     I  told  him  I  was  ;  and  in  a  day  or  two 

set  out.     But  Mr.  Br l  told  me,  '  Brother  K ,  you  must  not 

expect  to  do  much  good  here  ;  for  there  is  the  hidden  curse  among  the 
souls,  which  I  believe  arises  chiefly  from  the  practice  of  procuring 
abortion,  which  is  so  common  among  the  women.'  Nevertheless,  I  did 
find  a  great  blessing  during  the  two  or  three  months  that  I  laboured 
there  ;  but  I  could  not  stay,  having  a  strong  impression  on  my  mind 
that  I  was  to  labour  in  Jamaica. 

10.  Upon  my  mentioning  this  to  the  Brethren  they  said  I  should  go 
thither  as  soon  as  possible  ;  but  it  would  be  proper  for  me  to  go  to 
Pennsylvania  first,  and  spend  a  little  time  at  Bethlehem.  I  believed 
they  knew  best ;  so,  in  the  year  1744,  I  quitted  my  shop,  left  all  my 
affairs  unsettled,  and  sailed  to  Pennsylvania. 

n.  I  had  full  employ  at  Bethlehem,  being  appointed  General 
Preacher,  and  expected  to  bear  a  part  in  all  the  Conferences ;  but 
it  was  not  long  before  I  was  troubled  more  than  ever,  seeing  so 
much  craft  and  subtlety,  and  withal  so  much  pride,  stateliness,  and 
tyranny  in  those  that  governed  the  Church.  One  instance,  out  of 
very  many,  was  this :  W.  Harding,  who  came  over  some  time  before 
me,  and  was  a  stated  preacher,  had  spoken  to  them  freely  and  warmly 
of  several  things  which  he  thought  reprovable.  Upon  this  he  was 
put  out  of  all  his  offices,  and  all  the  Brethren  were  forbid  to  speak 
to  him.  Being  forsaken  of  all,  he  was  more  uneasy  still ;  on  which 
the  Brethren  said  he  was  mad.  As  such  he  was  confined,  and  food 
was  brought  to  him  once  or  twice  a  day  by  two  or  three  young  men, 
who  likewise  many  times  beat  him  very  severely.  At  length  he  watched 
his  opportunity,  and  made  his  escape ;  but  they  followed  after,  and 
took  him,  and  a  wooden  house  was  built  for  him,  not  a  quarter  of 
a  mile  from  the  town,  about  ten  feet  square,  and  very  dark.  I  was 
walking  along  near  the  place  when  they  were  bringing  him  thither. 
His  cries  and  entreaties  might  have  pierced  a  heart  of  stone.  He 
begged  that  he  might  clean  shoes,  fetch  them  water,  cleave  wood, 
or  whatever  they  pleased,  in  the  open  air.  But  it  availed  not ;  he 
was  shut  up.  About  six  weeks  after,  as  they  opened  the  door  one 
day  in  order  to  give  him  some  meat,  he  rushed  out,  got  by  them, 
and  made  toward  Philadelphia  with  all  the  speed  he  could.  Being 
close  pursued,  he  ran  to  the  river  (being  an  excellent  swimmer), 
leaped  in,  sank,  and  rose  no  more. 


'  Probably      Mrs.     James      Hutton's  several    of    which,    including    those    of 

brother,    Abraham    Lewis    Brandt,    the  John  Cennick  and  Bishop  Gambold,  were 

artist  of  the  early  Anglo-German  com-  published  by  J.  West,  10  Nevill's  Court, 

munity,   to  whom  wc  are   indebted    for  Fetter  Lane  {Memoirs  of  Hutton,  p.  375, 

Moravian      portraits      and     engravings,  note  ;  also  above,  vol.  ii.  p.  10), 


8  John   Wesley  s  Journal  fDec.  mi 

12.  I  was  then  at  New  York,  whence  I  returned  to  Bethlehem  in 
January  1746;  but  I  had  no  rest  in  my  spirit,  till,  after  three  weeks, 
I  removed  to  Philadelphia.  Here  two  of  the  Brethren  and  a  widow 
woman  lived  in  the  Brethren's  house.  I  hired  a  room  in  it,  and  desired 
the  widow,  as  I  had  not  convenience  myself,  to  boil  me  a  little  water  in 
the  morning  for  my  tea.  Meantime  all  the  Brethren  in  Philadelphia  were 
charged  not  to  converse  with  me.  And  not  long  after  the  two  Brethren 
wrote  Mr.  Sp[angenberg]  word  that  I  lived  in  adultery  with  the  widow. 
When  I  was  informed  of  this,  I  went  straight  to  Bethlehem,  and  told 
Mr.  Sp[angenberg]  the  whole  affair ;  who  immediately  wrote  back  to 
them  in  Philadelphia  that  I  had  confessed  the  charge. 

13.  Being  now  thoroughly  weary  of  mankind,  I  procured  a  little 
house  in  a  wood,  at  some  miles  distant  from  any  town,  and  resolved 
to  spend  the  remainder  of  my  days  by  myself.  Here  I  stayed  about 
four  years,  till  one  afternoon  Mr.  Sp[angenberg]  and  the  Count's  son- 
in-law  called  upon  me.  We  talked  together  till  two  in  the  morning. 
They  acknowledged  many  things  that  had  been  wrong,  promised  they 
should  be  amended  without  delay,  and  persuaded  me  to  join  with 
them  once  more.  But  nothing  was  amended  ;  so  that,  after  a  few 
months,  I  was  constrained  to  leave  them  again.  I  followed  my 
business  in  Philadelphia  till  I  had  earned  money  for  my  passage, 
and  a  year  ago  returned  to  London. 

Was  there  ever  so  melancholy  an  account  ?  Oh  what  is 
human  nature !  How  low  are  they  fallen  who  were  once 
burning  and  shining  lights,  spreading  blessings  wherever 
they  came  !  But  what  infatuation  is  it  which  makes  this 
very  man  attend  their  preaching  still,  and  his  wife  (though 
she  believes  most  of  what  her  husband  says) 1  to  remain  in 
close  connexion  with  them  ! 2 


1  The  1st  ed.  reads  :  '  Though  she  can-  preaching-day  at  this  mysterious  spot, 
not  believe  all  her  husband  says.'  Wednesday,  15,  West  Street  (6  texts)  ; 

2  Between  Dec.  21,  I75i,and  March  15,  Tuesday,  28,  Deptford  (2)  ;  Wednesday, 
1752,  an  interval  occurs  which  may  now  29,  West  Street  (4).  Also  in  January 
be  partially  filled  from  three  sources :  he   visits    Hayes,  preaching   twice  ;   but 

1.  The  Sermon  Register  described  in  we  do  not  know  the  exact  date, 

the  prefatory  note,  p.  2,  and  published  On    Wednesday,    Feb.    5,    he    is    in 

in  extenso  in  a  later  volume  of  this  edi-  Bristol  (9   texts).      During   this  month, 

tion,  enables  us  to  fill  many  of  Wesley's  but    on    days    not    known,    he    visited 

preaching     appointments     during      the  Sarum  (3)  and   Reading  (1).     Sunday, 

interval.  March  8,  he  was  at  Snowsfields  doing 

On  Tuesday,  Jan.  7,  he  was  in  retreat  the  usual  full  day's  work, 

at    Newington.      Four   texts   are   given.  2.  On  January   29,    1752,   an   Agree- 

Tuesday  seems  to  have  been  a  regular  ment  was  written   by  John  Wesley  and 


S    A  a  >-£  &* 


^/^/        ^_  ?//  -. 

i/V^/  —* *-  fits-*—   rr  A  r»  ?~i    r» ,  w»y    u'  ' ' — <s* 

0/  /  ^'J&       a  6  y 

3  .        JAZaJ-^A  ./»     ^ow-71.      ^W  y4-0^1   (^Z*i-       -S^-Z-     /"i^-  ^   <^£>-7T^-    - 


/^ 


9 


t^-      o'erTS-C- 


riZix.     ^Z>      <2ivS_~        o/?ttL-> 


K"v*r> 


e/i- 


X.  / 


FACSIMILE    OF   THE   AGREEMENT   SIGNED   BY   JOHN   AND   CHARLES    WESLEY  AND   THE 
PREACHERS,    JANUARY    Jy,     I752    [see    OPPOSITE). 


March  1752.1 


At   West  Street  in  a  Storm 


I  ! 


1752.     MARCH    15,  Sun.— While   I   was    preaching    at  West 


signed  by  certain  of  the  preachers.  A 
facsimile  of  this  will  be  found  on  p.  9. 
On  March  16  a  second  Agreement  was 
drawn  up  in  the  handwriting  of  Charles 
Wesley.  Thomas  Marriott  published 
this  document  from  the  original  in  his 
possession  (see  Meth.  Mag.  1847,  p.  869; 
also  Tyerman's  Life  of  Wesley,  vol.  ii. 
pp.  137,  138).  The  following  is  the  text, 
with  the  signatures  : 

We  whose  names  are  under-written,  being 
clearly  and  fully  convinced,  1.  That  the  suc- 
cess of  the  present  work  of  God  does  in 
great  measure  depend  on  the  entire  union 
of  all  the  labourers  employed  therein  ;  2. 
That  our  present  call  is  chiefly  to  the  mem- 
bers of  that  Church  wherein  we  have  been 
brought  up;  are  absolutely  determined,  by 
the  grace  of  God,  1.  To  abide  in  the  closest 
union  with  each  other,  and  never  knowingly 
or  willingly  to  hear,  speak,  do,  or  suffer 
anything  which  tends  to  weaken  that  union  ; 
2.  Never  to  leave  the  communion  of  the 
Church  of  England  without  the  consent  of 
all  whose  names  are  subjoined  : 

Charles  Wesley,       John  Jones, 
William  Shent,  John  Downes, 

John  Wesley,  John  Nelson. 

Similar  Agreements  were  made  at  the 
Conferences  of  1755  and  1756.  See 
Jackson's  Life  of  C.  Wesley,  vol.  ii. 
p.  104. 

3.  The  Commonplace  Book  of  Mrs. 
Maria  Frances  Cecilia  Cowper  yields 
one  incident  that  belongs  (if  the  weather 
is  a  reliable  clue)  to  the  earlier  portion 
of  this  hitherto  vacant  period.  Her 
mother,  Mrs.  Madan,  was  one  of 
Wesley's  converts.  Her  sister,  Pene- 
lope, married  General  Maitland.  Her 
brother  Martin,  rich,  musical,  brilliant, 
a  mimic,  on  his  way  to  legal  distinction, 
was  converted  as  the  result  of  a  frolic. 
His  companions  in  a  coffee-house  asked 
him  to  hear  Wesley  and  take  off  '  the 
old  Methodist.'  As  he  entered  the 
preaching-place  Wesley  was  announcing 
his  text,  '  Prepare  to  meet  thy  God.' 
Returning  to  the  coffee-house,  Madan 
told  his  comrades,  '  No,  gentlemen, 
but  he  has  taken  me  off.'  Ordained 
through  the  influence  of  Lady  Hunting- 
don,   he    became    one    of    the    leaders 


in  the  Evangelical  Revival.  As  minister 
at  the  Lock  Hospital  he  compiled  a 
Collection  of  Psalms  and  Hymn-tunes,  to 
which  we  are  indebted  for  the  once  popu- 
lar setting  to  '  Before  Jehovah's  awful 
throne,'  '  Hotham,'  the  recognized 
Methodist  tune  for  '  Jesu,  Lover  of  my 
soul,'  until  Dykes's  '  Hollingside  '  super- 
seded it,  '  Olivers'  or  *  Helmsley,'  '  Mos- 
cow '  and  other  permanent  favourites. 
His  younger  brother  was  Bishop  Spencer 
Madan.  Among  the  letters  and  family 
memoranda  in  Mrs.  Cowper's  Common- 
place Book  are  two  entries  that  bring 
her  mother  into  renewed  correspond- 
ence, and  her  father,  Colonel  Madan, 
into  intimate  pastoral  friendship,  with 
Wesley.  In  spiritual  perplexity  arising 
out  of  the  exigencies  of  her  social  duties, 
Mrs.  Madan  consulted  Wesley.  His 
reply,  which  will  be  found  in  the  new 
issue  of  Wesley  letters  now  preparing 
for  publication,  ranks  among  the  finest 
examples  of  pastoral  instruction  on  record. 
The  other  entry  falls  into  the  vacant  space 
between  Jan.  1  and  March  15,  1752. 
Her  husband,  Mr.  Madan,  had  held 
deistical  views;  but,  on  the  occasion  of  a 
great  illness  at  Hertingfordbury  Park  in 
1752,  he  was  led  back  to  orthodox  belief, 
and,  '  having  received  the  Blessed  Sacra- 
ment with  great  awe  and  devotion,' 
he  bade  his  wife  write  to  their  son 
Martin,  who  was  gone  to  town  for  a 
few  days,  to  procure  him  a  visit  from 
Mr.  John-  West  ley.  Mrs.  Madan  said, 
'  On  his  repeated  commands  I  did  this  : 
and  lie  (Wesley),  notwithstanding  the 
severity  of  the  weather  (being  frost  and 
snow),  set  immediately  out,  and  arrived 
in  the  morning  at  the  Park  House' 
Wesley  remained  the  rest  of  the  day 
with  the  family,  conversing  and  praying 
with  the  sick  man  repeatedly,  and  over- 
coming the  prejudice  of  some  who 
happened  to  be  present  by  his  truly 
Christian  tenderness. 

Mr.  Westley  being  obliged  to  go  again 
early  in  the  day  .  .  .  was  up  before  daybreak, 
and   I   went  down    to   breakfast    with    hjm 


1 2  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [March  1752. 

Street1  in  the  afternoon  there  was  one  of  the  most  violent 
storms  I  ever  remember.  In  the  midst  of  the  sermon  great 
part  of  a  house  opposite  to  the  chapel  was  blown  down.  We 
heard  a  huge  noise,  but  knew  not  the  cause ;  so  much  the 
more  did  God  speak  to  our  hearts  ;  and  great  was  the  rejoicing 
of  many  in  confidence  of  His  protection.  Between  four  and 
five  I  took  horse,  with  my  wife  and  daughter.  The  tiles  were 
rattling  from  the  houses  on  both  sides  ;  but  they  hurt  not  us. 
We  reached  Hayes  about  seven  in  the  evening,  and  Oxford  the 
next  day. 

Tues.  17. — The  rain  continued  without  intermission  till  we 
came  to  Enstone.  Soon  after  we  set  out  from  thence  it  was 
succeeded  by  so  vehement  a  wind  as  on  Broadway  Hill  often 
drove  us  clear  out  of  the  path,  and  was  ready  to  carry  away 
both  horse  and  rider.     But  our  strength  was  as  our  day,  and 

before  six  in  the  evening  we  came  unhurt  to  Evesham. 

I  preached  in  the  evening  at  the  Town  Hall,  where  several 
of  the  clergy  and  gentry  were  present. 

Wed.  18. — I  rode  over  with  Mr.   to  his  house,2  which 

I  had  not  seen  for  upwards  of  twenty  years.    The  place  I  found, 

(and  one  who  had  accompanied  him  in  this  '  On    the    same    day   he    preached   at 

journey)  and  made  such  acknowledgements  Snowsfields. 

as  I  thought  justly  due  for  his  great  goodness  .,             extreme  probability  is  that  the 

and  humanity,  in  every  instance  so  strongly  f     ,,,,'<  rrir,_  nvpr 

impressed,  through  the  course  of  this  short        Mr.  with  whom  Wesley     rode  over 

but  edifying  visit— which  many  would  have  to    his    house'     was   his    old   friend    the 

thought  the  unusual  severity  of  the  weather  Rgv     R0Dert    Kirkham,    who    succeeded 

a  sufficient  reason  at  least  to  have  delayed.  ^  fa[her  (Lionel  Kirkham)  in  the  family 

Rut  '  the  faith  that  worketh  by  love    finds  no  \                            ,     ,        j___    __« 

difficulties  in  the  path  that  leads  to  Christian  living   of   Stanton,  though   he    docs    not 

charity  appear  (for  some  not  very  clearly  denned 

Mr.   Madan  recovered.      For   a   time  reason)  to  have  taken  actual  possession 

his     religious     impressions     seemed     to  of  the  living  until  January  i754-     That 

decrease,    but    in    his    last     illness     in  the  rectory  remained  in  the   possession 

17S6  earnestness  returned,  and  his  wife  of  the  Kirkham  family  after  the  father  s 

bu  ied   him   in   sure   and   certain   hope.  death  we  know  from  Charles  Wes.eys 

See   WH.S    vol.   v.  pp.   142-5  (which  Journal,  March  30,  1737-     Whether  the 

was  indebted  to  Rev.  F   H.  Benson  and  '  aunt'  referred  to  in  the  text  was  aunt 

Prof  T    E.  B.  Mayor,  of  Cambridge)  for  or  sister  to  Robert  we  have  no  means 

these  valuable  extracts.  of  ascertaining ;   or   whether   she  ,s   to 

A  long  letter,  written  on  Dec.  20,  to  be  identified  with  the    Mrs.  S.  K.   whose 

•A  Friend'    {Arm.  Mag.  i779.  P-  3»-  wedding  Wesley  attended  ,n  1725-6  we 

17),  belongs  to  this  interval;    also  the  cannot  say.    See  above  vol. .1 ;  p.  53  ;  also, 

Preface  to  the  Works  of  Mr.  John  Smith  for  the  Kirkham  family,    WH.S.  vol.  y. 

(  Works,  vol.  xiv.   p.  230,  in  1831  ed.  p.  P-  54  :  of.  notice  of  Dr.  A.  Leger  on  this 

245),  written  on  March  to.  edition ofWesley's Journal, vol.  vm.p.  i47- 


March  1752.] 


Revisiting  Old  Scenes  13 


but  not  the  inhabitants.     Most  of  them  were  gone  to  their  long 

home.     I  saw  not  one  whom  I  knew  but  Mr. 's  aunt,  who 

could  not  long  forbear  telling  me  how  sorry  she  was  that  I  should 
leave  all  my  friends  to  lead  this  vagabond  life.  Why,  indeed  it 
is  not  pleasing  to  flesh  and  blood ;  and  I  would  not  do  it  if  I  did 
not  believe  there  was  another  world.  Our  dispute  did  not  con- 
tinue long,  and  ended  in  much  love.     Mr.  rode  back  with 

me  to  Evesham,  attended  the  preaching  both  at  seven  and  at 
five  in  the  morning,  and  walked  with  me  from  the  room  after 
sermon  ;  but  it  was  some  time  before  he  could  speak.  He  then 
broke  out,  '  I  am  to  take  care  of  two  thousand  souls,  and  I  never 
yet  knew  how  to  take  care  of  my  own  ! '  I  left  him  full  of 
conviction  and  good  resolutions.  How  many  days  will  they 
continue  ? 

Thur.  19. — I  rode  to  Birmingham,  and,  from  the  behaviour 
of  the  people,  both  this  and  the  following  evening,  found  reason 
to  hope  that  some  of  the  seed  which  has  been  sown  here  will 
bear  lasting  fruit. 

Sat.   21. — I    rode    to    Wednesbury,  where    Mr.  ,  Vicar 

of ,  had  appointed  to  meet  me.1     I  rejoiced  to  find  so  great 

a  change.  Since  he  has  known  the  pardoning  love  of  God  he 
has  been  swiftly  going  on  from  faith  to  faith,  and  growing  not 
in  knowledge  only,  but  in  love. 

Sun.  22. — After  preaching  at  five  I  returned  to  Birming- 
ham.2 Many  were  much  afraid  of  my  preaching  in  the  street, 
expecting  I  know  not  what  mischief  to  be  done.  Vain  fear  ! 
I  saw  not  one  person  behave  amiss  while  I  declared,  '  There  is 
joy  in  heaven  over  one  sinner  that  repenteth.' 

At  one  I  preached  at  Tipton  Green  to  a  large  congregation, 
though  the  wind  was  ready  to  cut  us  in  two  ;  and  about  five  to 


'  The  society,  by  this  time,  had  sue-  '  The  society,  still  in  Steelhouse  Lane, 

ceeded  in  renting  a  large  room  near  to  had  enlarged  its  borders  from  a  room  in 

the   present   Bell    Inn,    Church    Street,  a  dwelling-house  to  an  independent  out- 

which  they  continued   to  use  till   1760.  building.     Fears  of  mischief  were  doubt- 

At  this  time,  and  until  1782,  the  Rev.  less  based  on  recent  hostilities,  when  an 

Edward  Best  was  vicar  of  Wednesbury  attack  was  made  upon  the  room,  the  pulpit 

and  incumbent   of  Bilston,   a   Christian  and  many  seats  being  taken  and  burned, 

gentleman     and    county    justice,      who  '  Some    of    the     principal    inhabitants ' 

'  scorned  to  arouse  the  brutal   passions  assisted  the  constable  in  dispersing  the 

of    his    parishioners     against '     Wesley  rioters   {Early   Meth.    in   Birmingham. 

{Meth.  Rec.  March  21,  1901)  p.  18). 


14  John    Wesley 's  Journal  [March  1752. 


a  much  larger  at  Wednesbury,  where,  in  spite  of  all  the  wiles 
of  Satan  and  the  cunning  craftiness  of  men,  the  plain,  genuine 
gospel  runs  and  is  glorified. 

Mon.  23. — I  spent  an  agreeable  hour  with  Mr. ,  curate 

of   W '  ;   an    honest,    upright   man,    I    verily    believe,   and 

willing  to  know  the  whole  counsel  of  God.  In  the  evening  I 
preached  to  a  small,  serious  congregation  at  Bilbrook.  The 
storm  of  wind,  snow,  and  hail  was  ready  for  us  in  the  morning, 
almost  as  soon  as  we  set  out,  and  continued  most  part  of  the 
day.  When  we  had  heaths  or  commons  to  cross,  it  was  not 
easy  to  sit  a  horse,  especially  as  the  wind  was  full  in  our  teeth. 
However,  we  reached  Poole  (two  miles  from  Nantwich)  in  the 
evening,  and  found  a  congregation  gathered  from  many  miles 
round,  several  of  whom  sat  up  all  night  for  fear  of  losing  the 
morning  sermon. 

Wed.  25. — After  preaching  at  five  and  at  nine,  I  rode  on  to 
Alpraham,  where  a  large  congregation  of  serious,  sensible  people 
attended,  both  at  one  and  at  seven  in  the  evening.2 

Thur.  26. 3 — We  rode  on  through  wind  and  snow,  and  reached 
Manchester.  At  night  I  was  grieved  to  hear,  in  all  places,  from 
my  coming  into  Cheshire  till  now,  that  John  Bennet  was  still 
speaking  all  manner  of  evil  ;  averring,  wherever  he  came,  that 
Mr.  W[esley]  preached  nothing  but  Popery,  denying  justification 
by  faith,  and  making  nothing  of  Christ.  Lord,  lay  not  this  sin 
to  his  charge  ! 

Fri.  27  (being  Good  Friday).  — \  went  to  the  old  church, 
where  Mr.  Clayton  read  prayers  ;  I  think  the  most  distinctly, 
solemnly,  and  gracefully  of  any  man  I  have  ever  heard  ;  and 
the  behaviour  of  the  whole  congregation  was  serious  and  solemn 
in  every  part  of  the  service.  But  I  was  surprised  to  see  such  a 
change  in  the  greater  part  of  them  as  soon  as  ever  the  sacra- 


1  There  seems  to  be  a  misprint  here.  of  St.  John's  Church  in  that  town,  where, 

W is   probably  to  be  construed  as  according  to  tradition,  Wesley  preached. 

'  Dudley,'  in  which  case  the  '  curate  '  The  data  as  to  Mr.  Clement  are  due  to 
would  be  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Clement,  the  courtesy  of  Mr.  A.  A.  Rollason. 
B.A.,  who  was  in  other  ways  indebted  to  2  On  the  25th  he  wrote  a  letter  to  the 
Wesley's  teaching.  In  1752  he  was  head  society  at  Monyash.  John  Bennet,  who 
master  of  Dudley  Grammar  School,  and  had  left  him,  was  troubling  the  Derby- 
curate  of  St.  Edmund's  Church.  He  shire  societies  {Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  267). 
afterwards  became  head  master  of  Wol-  *  On  this  day  he  also  preached  at 
verhampton  Grammar  School  and  vicar  Booth  Bank. 


Marcni762.]  John  Bennet 's  Renunciation 


15 


ment  was  over.1  They  were  then  bowing,  courtesying,  and 
talking  to  each  other,  just  as  if  they  were  going  from  a  play. 

On  Sunday,  Monday,  and  Tuesday  I  spoke  severally  to 
each  member  of  the  society  ;  and  found  reason,  after  the 
strictest  search,  to  believe  that  there  was  not  one  disorderly 
walker  therein. 

Tues.  31. — T[homas]  Mfitchell]  gave  me  a  full  account  of 
J[ohn]  B[ennet]'s2  renouncing  all  connexion  with  me;  adding, 
1  On  the  30th  of  December  last,  after  he  had  said  many  bitter 
things  of  you  to  the  congregation  at  Bolton,  he  spread  out  his 
arms,  and  cried,  [three  times]  "  Popery !  popery  !  popery !  I 
have  not  been  in  connexion  with  him  these  three  years,  neither 
will  I  be  any  more."  And  the  same  thing  he  said  to  all  the 
stewards,  at  the  Quarterly  Meeting  on  New  Year's  Day.' 3 


1  May  we  infer  that  Wesley  adminis- 
tered the  sacrament,  or  assisted  his  old 
friend  ? 

'  John  Bennet  had  been  continued  by 
Wesley  in  the  itinerant  work.  See 
.Minutes,  vol.  i.  p.  709.  Of  the  Con- 
ference beginning  March  8,  1750,  we 
have  no  detailed  account  ;  but  there  can 
be  no  doubt  as  to  Bennet's  reappoint- 
ment. Not  long  after,  he  wrote  to  White- 
field,  complaining  of  Wesley's  discipline 
and  doctrines,  probably  in  the  hope  that 
Whitefield  would  invite  his  co-operation. 
Whitefield's  reply  (June  27,  1750)  gave 
him  good  advice  but  no  encouragement 
(Whitefield's  Works,  vol.  ii.  p.  362). 
Bennet  was  present  at  a  meeting  of 
preachers  convened  in  Leeds  by  Charles 
Wesley  in  September  1 75 1. 

The  following  notices  of  Bennet  are 
given  by  Jackson  in  his  Charles  Wesley, 
taken  from  his  manuscript  Journal : 

Sept.  11,  1751.— I  began  to  speak  on  the 
work  and  trials  of  a  preacher.  .  .  .  This 
conversation  lasted  till  one.  I  carried  Mr. 
Griinshaw,  Milner,  and  Bennet  to  dinner  at 
Miss  Norton's.  .  .  .  Sept.  12. — I  took  horse 
with  Mr.  Grimshaw,  Milner,  Shent,  Bennet 
for  Birstall  ....  and  concluded  the  happy 
day  with  John  Bennet  in  prayer.  Sept.  13.— 
1  let  him  preach  in  the  morning,  which  he 
did  to  the  satisfaction  of  all.  .  .  .  Sept.  14. — 
1  heard  John  Bennet  again.  He  spake 
eound  words  that  could  not  be  reproved. 

These   sentences  are   selected   from  a 


much  longer  fragment  of  Charles  Wesley's 
'  private  Journal,'  the  MS.  of  which  was 
in  Thomas  Jackson's  possession  when  he 
wrote  Charles  Wesley's  biography,  and 
is  there  printed  in  full,  but  has  now  dis- 
appeared. See  the  new  edition  of  Charles 
Wesley's  Journal,  in  which  Jackson's 
version  of  the  missing  fragment  is  pub- 
lished. Charles  does  not  appear  to  have 
been  aware  of  Bennet's  disaffection. 
Thomas  Mitchell,  one  of  the  preachers, 
was  present  at  the  meeting  in  Bolton 
when  Bennet  renounced  his  connexion 
with  Wesley,  and  drew  after  him  the 
larger  part  of  the  society.  Two  years 
after  his  secession  he  settled  as  an  in- 
dependent minister  at  Warburton,  a 
small  village  near  Warrington.  There 
he  died  in  1759,  aged  forty-five  years. 
Grace,  his  widow,  after  several  years, 
rejoined  the  Methodists.  For  many 
years  she  lived  a  saintly  and  useful  life 
among  her  own  people,  and  left  a  family 
name  which  has  been  held  in  honour 
not  only  among  the  Methodists  but  also 
in  the  Church  of  England. 

n  On  April  2  Wesley  preached  three 
times  in  Bolton.  In  John  Bennet's 
Journal,  under  April  1,  he  records  an 
interview  with  Wesley  concerning  the 
deeds  of  the  new  house  at  Bolton.  See 
Musgrave's  Bolton  Methodism,  p.  16;  also 
below,  p.  32. 


16  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [April  1752. 

April   3,  Fri. — I    rode   to   Bank    House,1    near   Rochdale, 
where  T[homas]  Mitchell  gave  me  the  following  account : 

On  Sunday,  August  4  last,  I  preached  at  Wrangle,2  at  five  in  the 
morning,  as  usual.  About  six  two  constables  came,  and  carried  me  to 
a  public-house,  where  I  was  kept  till  near  four  in  the  afternoon.  Then 
one  of  them  said  he  would  go  and  ask  the  minister  whether  they 
might  not  let  me  go.  Upon  his  return  they  brought  me  out  to  a  large 
mob,  who  carried  me  and  threw  me  into  a  standing  water  ;  and  as 
often  as  I  tried  to  come  out,  they  pitched  me  in  again.  At  last  some 
of  them  said  I  should  come  out,  and  kept  the  others  off  till  I  got  up 
the  bank.  I  found  myself  very  happy  all  the  time,  for  I  knew  I  was 
in  the  Lord's  hand.  I  got  back  to  the  house  where  I  lodged,  and  went 
to  bed.  But  in  less  than  an  hour  the  mob  came  again,  broke  open  the 
doors  of  the  house  and  the  chamber,  and  dragged  me  away  with  them. 
They  carried  me  to  a  great  pond,  which  was  railed  round,  being  ten  or 
twelve  feet  deep.  Then  four  men  took  me  up  by  my  legs  and  arms. 
I  felt  the  flesh  shrink  a  little  at  first ;  but  it  was  soon  over,  and  I  did 
not  care  whether  I  lived  or  died,  just  as  pleased  the  Lord.  They 
swung  me  backward  and  forward  two  or  three  times,  and  then  threw 
me  as  far  as  they  could  into  the  water.  The  fall  took  away  my  senses, 
so  that  I  felt  nothing  more  ;  but  some  that  did  not  care  to  have  me 
drowned,  when  I  came  above  water,  catching  hold  of  my  clothes  with 
a  long  pole,  pulled  me  out.  I  lay  senseless  for  some  time.  When  I 
came  to  myself  I  saw  many  people  about  me.  One  of  them  helped 
me  up  and  bade  me  go  with  him.  He  brought  me  to  a  little  house, 
and  put  me  to  bed  ;  but  I  had  not  laid  long  before  the  mob  came 
again,  pulled  me  out  of  bed,  and  drove  me  before  them,  almost  naked, 
to  the  end  of  the  parish,  where  they  left  me.  I  made  shift  to  get  on  to 
a  place  three  miles  off,  where  I  got  to  bed  again,  and  slept  in  peace.3 

Sun.    5. — About    one    I    preached    at    Birstall.       Observing 
that  several  sat  on  the  side  of  the  opposite  hill,4    I  afterward 


1  Bank  House  farm  at  Bagslate,  two  Bailey,  to  whom  Wesley  wrote  a  re- 
miles  north  of  Rochdale.  '  Blomley's  markable  letter  in  which  he  claimed  re- 
Bam  '  was  the  preaching-house  —  an  dress  and  religious  freedom  (see  above, 
illustrious  place  in  the  history  of  early  vol.  iii.  p.  533).  The  Court  of  King's 
Methodism  in  Rochdale.  See  Meth.  Bench,  on  appeal,  gave  protection  to  the 
Rec.  Aug.  24,  1905,  Jan.  18,  1906,  persecuted  Methodists. 
Mar.  10,  1910.  '  The  Sermon  Register  gives  Leek  in 

'  Also      spelt      '  Rangdale.'       This,  April,  at  which  he  preached,  apparently 

obviously,    is    another    version    ot    the  early  in  the  month  ;  also  Mirfield,  Hali- 

tragic  story   of  Thomas  Mitchell's   en-  fax,  Haworth,  Leeds,  Fersley,  Bradford, 

counter   with    '  the   lions  of  Wrangle.'  Ferry. 

Their    leader    was    the    Rev.    Richard  *  Called  Brown  Hill. 


Apm  1752.]  In  tfie    West  Riding  17 

desired  one  to  measure  the  ground  ;  and  we  found  it  was  seven 
score  yards  from  the  place  where  I  [had]  stood.  Yet  the  people 
there  heard  perfectly  well.  I  did  not  think  any  human  voice 
could  have  reached  so  far. 

Between  four  and  five  I  preached  in  our  new  house '  at 
Leeds  ;  but  it  was  so  full,  consequently  so  hot,  and  my  voice 
was  so  damped  by  the  breath  of  the  people,  that  I  suppose 
many  could  not  hear." 

Wed.  8. — We  rode  to  Heptonstall,  a  little  town  on  the 
round  top  of  a  very  high  mountain,  with  a  steep  descent  on 
every  side.  I  preached  in  a  vacant  place  on  the  brow  of  the 
hill.  A  captain  who  came  from  the  minister's  house  laboured 
much  to  divert  the  attention  of  the  people,  but  none  regarded 
him  at  all.  When  we  went  away  he  followed  us  down  the  hill. 
One  took  him  by  the  hand,  and  spoke  a  few  words ;  on  which 
he  shook  like  a  leaf,  and  said  he  hoped  this  would  be  a  happy 
day  for  him,  and  that  he  should  think  more  than  he  had  done  in 
time  past. 

Fri.  10. — I  preached  at  Dewsbury,3  where  the  case  of  the 
vicar  and  his  curate  will  not  soon  be  forgotten.  After  a  con- 
versation I  had  with  the  vicar,  above  three  years  ago,  he  was 
deeply  serious,  till  he  conversed  again  with  rich  and  honourable 
men,  who  soon  cured  him  of  that  distraction.  Yet  in  a  while 
he  relapsed,  and  was  more  serious  than  ever,  till  he  was  taken 
ill.  The  physician  made  light  of  his  illness,  and  said  he  would 
do  well  enough  if  they  did  but  keep  those  Methodists  from  him. 


'  In  May  1751  he  had  preached  within  ii.  pp.  21-2,  143.     The  story  of  the  vicars 

the  walls.     See  above,  vol.  iii.  p.  526.  and  curates  of  Dewsbury  has  interesting 

*  On  April  7  he  preached  at  Halifax  points   of  contact  with    the    history   of 

and    Haworth,   and   at    Mirfield    on    the  Methodism  in  the  town.      Wesley  is  said 

10th.  to     have     preached     Robson's    funeral 

3  Dewsbury  Methodism  has  been  well  sermon.  Matthew  Powley,  vicar  from 
served  by  its  chroniclers.  This  is  the  1 777  to  1806,  was  presented  to  the  living 
more  fortunate  because  bom  early  times  by  the  King  at  the  desire  of  Lord  Dart- 
it  became  a  strong  centre  of  Yorkshire  mouth.  He  was  denied  all  college 
Methodism.  For  studies  of  early  Metho-  preferment  at  Oxford  because  of  his 
dist  life  and  other  reliable  information  evangelical  views.  He  married  Miss 
see  J.  Riley  Robinson's  Dewsbury,  pp.  Unwin,  of  Huntingdon,  and  is  men- 
39,  41,  45  ;  Historical  and  Biographical  tioned  in  Cowper's  Letters.  For  Charles 
Notices,  by  ('•.  G.  Waddington,  Dews-  Wesley's  visits  to  Dewsbury  and  contact 
bury,  1886  ;also  Life 0/ C. oj Huntingdon,  with  the  clergy  see  his  Journal,  Oct.  21 
vol.  i.  pp.  276,  291,  301,  378,  428  ;  vol.  1746,  and  Oct.  12,  1756. 


1 8  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [April  1702. 

They  did  so.  However,  in  a  few  days  he  died,1  and,  according 
to  his  own  express  order,  was  carried  to  the  grave  at  seven  in 
the  morning  by  eight  poor  men  (whom  he  had  named),  and 
buried  on  the  north  side  of  the  church.  The  curate  who 
buried  him,2  sickening  the  same  week,  insisted  that  the  Metho- 
dists should  not  be  kept  from  him.  About  ten  days  after,  he 
died,  and,  according  to  his  desire,  was,  about  the  same  hour, 
carried  also  by  eight  poor  men,  and  laid  in  a  grave  close  to  that 
of  Mr.  Robson.3 

Sat.   11. — I  preached  at  R ,  once  a  place   of  furious 

riot  and  persecution  ;  but  quiet  and  calm  since  the  bitter  rector 
is  gone  to  give  an  account  of  himself  to  God.4 

Sun.  12. — I  came  to  Wakefield  as  the  bells  were  ringing 
in,  and  went  directly  to  Mr.  W[ilson] 5  in  the  vestry.  The 
behaviour  of  the  congregation  surprised  me.  I  saw  none  light, 
none  careless  or  unaffected,  while  I  enforced  '  What  is  a  man 
profited  if  he  shall  gain  the  whole  world,  and  lose  his  own 
soul  ? '  Hath  not  God  the  hearts  of  all  men  in  His  hand  ? 
Who  would  have  expected  to  see  me  preaching  in  Wakefield 
Church  to  so  attentive  a  congregation  a  few  years  ago,  when 
all  the  people  were  as  roaring  lions,  and  the  honest  man  c  did 
not  dare  to  let  me  preach  in  his  yard  lest  the  mob  should  pull 
down  his  houses ! 

Mon.  13. —  In  the  evening  I  preached  at  Sheffield,  in  the  shell 
of  the  new  house.  All  is  peace  here  now,  since  the  trial  at 
York,  at  which  the  magistrates  were  sentenced  to  rebuild  the 
house  which  the  mob  had  pulled  down.  Surely  the  magistrate 
has  been  the  minister  of  God  to  us  for  good  ! 

Tues.  14. — I   went  to  B ,7   whence  the  vicar,  Mr.  Drake, 

had  sent  a  messenger  on  purpose  to  desire  he  might  see  me.     I 


1  April  14,  1749.  to  early  morning  preaching  in  Leeds  and 

2  '  Rev.    James     Medley,    curate     of  to  a  service  later  in  the  day  at  R . 

Dewsbury,    died    May    2,    1749,    aged  Wesley  often  preached  twice  in  the  early 

twenty-eight.'  morning,  at  five  and  eight. 

3  Wesley  preached  at  Skircoat   Green  ''  Rev.  Benjamin  Wilson,  M.A.,  vicar, 
in  April.     Cf.  above,  vol.  iii.  p.  368.                   s  Francis  Scott.     See  above,   vol.  iii. 

1  The   Sermon    Register  gives  'April  p.  368. 
11,  Leeds,'  with  two  texts.    But  Wesley's  '  According    to  the  Sermon  Register, 

secretary    may    have    omitted    to    insert  about  this  time  he  preached  at  Ewood, 

'  R '   or    possibly   this   entry   refers  Grimshaw's  home. 


Apru  1752]  /*  and  Around  Eptvorth  19 

found  him  in  deep  distress  for  the  loss  of  his  wife,  mixed  with 
strong  desires  after  God.  Hearing  I  was  going  to  preach  at 
Rotherham,1  he  offered  to  go  with  me.  He  seemed  to  stagger 
at  nothing  ;  though  as  yet  his  understanding  is  not  opened.  Oh 
that  he  may  not  rest  till  it  is  ! 

Wed.  15. — I  rode  on  toward  Epworth.2  But  I  was  nigh 
shipwrecked  in  sight  of  the  port.  Attempting  to  ride  over  the 
common  the  nearest  way,  my  mare  was  quickly  imbogged.  But 
being  lively  and  strong,  she  made  a  shift  to  get  out,  and  I  was 
glad  to  go  round  by  Torne  Bank. 

Thur.  16. — I  walked  over  to  Burnham.3  I  had  no  thought 
of  preaching  there,  doubting  if  my  strength  would  allow  of 
preaching  always  thrice  a  day,  as  I  had  done  most  days  since 
I  came  from  Evesham  ;  but,  finding  a  house  full  of  people, 
I  could  not  refrain.  Still,  the  more  I  use  my  strength,  the  more 
I  have.  I  am  often  much  tired  the  first  time  I  preach  in  a  day ; 
a  little  the  second  time  ;  but,  after  the  third  or  fourth,  I  rarely 
feel  either  weakness  or  weariness. 

Fri.  17. — I  called  on  the  gentleman  who  told  me  he  was 
'  sinner  enough,' 4  when  I  preached  first  at  Epworth  on  my 
father's  tomb,  and  was  agreeably  surprised  to  find  him  strong  in 
faith,  though  exceeding  weak  in  body.  For  some  years,  he  told 
me,  he  had  been  rejoicing  in  God,  without  either  doubt  or  fear ; 
and  was  now  waiting  for  the  welcome  hour  when  he  should 
'  depart  and  be  with  Christ.' 

Sat.  18. — I  preached  at  Belton,  and  felt  an  uncommon  de- 
gree of  the  presence  of  God  among  a  handful  of  poor,  despised 
people.  Oh  how  precious  is  the  least  of  these  in  His  sight  who 
bought  them  with  His  own  blood  ! 

Sun.  19. — At  eight  I  preached  at  Clay  worth,  where,  a  year 
ago,  the  mob  carried  all  before  them.  But  an  honest  Justice 
quelled  them  at  once  ;  so  that  they  are  now  glad  to  be  quiet  and 
mind  their  own  business. 

At  one  I  preached  at  Misterton  to  a  deeply  attentive  con- 

'  See  Everett's  Meth.  in  Sheffield,  p.  89.  Wesley   wrote   to   Blackwell   from    Ep- 

2  The  Sermon  Register  gives 'Bunham'  worth:   'All  his  cows  are  dead,  and  all 

and  Belton  for  April   15.     Probably  this  his  horses  but  one;  and  all  his  meadow 

should  be  April  16  and  18.  land   has  been    under  water   these  two 

1  His  brother-in-law,   R.   Ellison,  was  years'  {Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  176). 

now  reduced  to  poverty.      On  the    16th  '  See  above,  vol.  iii.  p.  23. 

VOL.   IV  2 


20  John   Wesley  s  Journal  iApnii752. 

gregation  assembled  from  all  parts,  and  between  four  and  five 
at  Epworth  Cross.  The  congregation  here  was  somewhat 
lessened  by  a  burial  at  Belton,  that  of  poor  Mr.  R[ichar]d 
P[opplewe]ll 1 ;  emphatically  poor,2  though,  while  he  lived,  he 
possessed  (not  enjoyed)  at  least  a  thousand  pounds  a  year. 

Mon.  20. — I  rode  by  Hainton  3  to  Coningsby.  The  next  day 
I  preached  at  Wrangle,  where  we  expected  some  disturbance, 
but  found  none.  The  light  punishment  inflicted  on  the  late 
rioters  (though  their  expense  was  not  great,  as  they  submitted 
before  the  trial),  has  secured  peace  ever  since.  Such  a  mercy 
it  is  to  execute  the  penalty  of  the  law  on  those  who  will  not 
regard  its  precepts !  So  many  inconveniences  to  the  innocent 
does  it  prevent,  and  so  much  sin  in  the  guilty. 

Wed.  22. — I  rode  to  Grimsby.  The  crowd  was  so  great  in 
the  evening  that  the  room  was  like  an  oven.  The  next  night  I 
preached  at  the  end  of  the  town,  whither  almost  all  the  people, 
rich  and  poor,  followed  me,  and  I  had  a  fair  opportunity  of 
closely  applying  that  weighty  question,  '  Lord,  are  there  few  that 
be  saved  ? ' 4 

Fri.  24. — We  rode  by  a  fine  seat,6  the  owner  of  which  (not 
much  above  fourscore  years  old)  says  he  desires  only  to  live 
thirty  years  longer  :  ten  to  hunt,  ten  to  get  money  (having  at 
present  but  twenty  thousand  pounds  a  year),  and  ten  years  to 
repent.  Oh  that  God  may  not  say  unto  him,  '  Thou  fool,  this 
night  shall  thy  soul  be  required  of  thee  ! ' 

When  I  landed  at  the  quay  in  Hull,6  it  was  covered  with 
people  inquiring,  '  Which  is  he  ?     Which  is  he  ?  '     But  they  only 

stared  and  laughed  ;  and  we  walked  unmolested  to  Mr.  A 's 

house. 

1  His  mural  tablet  is  in  Belton  Church.       Sarah    Snowdcn,    by    W.    L.  Thornton, 
See  W.H.S.  vol.  v.  p.  197.  Meth.  Mag.  1837,  pp.  8S5  sqq.,  where  a 

2  See  W.H.S.  vol.  v.  p.  115.  full  account  of  the  early  history  of  Hull 
's  But  he  preached  there.  Methodism  is  given.  See  below,  pp.  330, 
*  This    illustrates   the    extent   of    his       331).     When  John  Pawson  was  eighteen 

work   outside   the  Journal   limits.      He  (1755)   he   found   the  Methodists  in  an 

preached  at  Grimsby  four  sermons,  not  *  obscure  place '  in  Hull  (E.M.P.  vol.  ii. 

two.  p.  3).    A  chapel  was  built  in  1 760,  and  ten 

'■"  Probably  he  refers  to  Brockesby.  years  later  it  was  superseded  by  a  larger 

'  The  pioneer  of  Hull  Methodism  was  building.     In  1771  Manor  Alley  Chapel 

Mrs.   Elizabeth  Blow,   who  crossed  the  was  built,  it  is  said,  on  the  site  of  the 

Humber  from  Grimsby  (see    W.M.  Mag.  gateway  tower  of  the  town  house  of  De 

1898,    p.   483  ;  also    Memoirs    of  Mrs.  la  Poles. 


April  1762.1 


Persecution  at  Hull  21 


I  was  quite  surprised  at  the  miserable  condition  of  the 
fortifications,  far  more  ruinous  and  decayed  than  those  at 
Newcastle,  even  before  the  rebellion.  It  is  well  there  is  no 
enemy  near. 

I  went  to  prayers  at  three  in  the  old  church  ] — a  grand  and 
venerable  structure.  Between  five  and  six  the  coach  called,  and 
took  me  to  Myton  Car,2  about  half  a  mile  from  the  town.  A 
huge  multitude,  rich  and  poor,  horse  and  foot,  with  several 
coaches,  were  soon  gathered  together  ;  to  whom  I  cried  with 
a  loud  voice  and  a  composed  spirit,  '  What  shall  it  profit  a 
man  if  he  shall  gain  the  whole  world,  and  lose  his  own  soul  ?  ' 
Some  thousands  of  the  people  seriously  attended,  but  many 
behaved  as  if  possessed  by  Moloch.  Clods  and  stones  flew 
about  on  every  side,  but  they  neither  touched  nor  disturbed 
me.  When  I  had  finished  my  discourse,  I  went  to  take  coach  ; 
but  the  coachman  had  driven  clear  away.  We  were  at  a  loss 
till  a  gentlewoman  invited  my  wife  and  me  to  come  into  her 
coach.  She  brought  some  inconveniences  on  herself  thereby, 
not  only  as  there  were  nine  of  us  in  the  coach,  three  on  each 
side,  and  three  in  the  middle,  but  also  as  the  mob  closely 
attended  us,  throwing  in  at  the  windows  (which  we  did  not 
think  it  prudent  to  shut)  whatever  came  next  to  hand.  But  a 
large  gentlewoman  who  sat  in  my  lap  screened  me,  so  that 
nothing  came  near  me. 

The  mob,  who  were  increased  to  several  thousands,  when  I 

stepped  out  of  the  coach   into  Mr.   A 's  house,  perceiving 

I  was  escaped  out  of  their  hands,  revenged  themselves  on  the 
windows  with  many  showers  of  stones,  which  they  poured  in, 

even    into   the    rooms  four  stories   high.       Mr.   A walked 

through  them  to  the  mayor's  house,  who  gave  him  fair  words 
but  no  assistance — probably  not  knowing  that  himself  (the 
mayor)  might  be  compelled  to  make  good  all  the  damage  which 
should  be  done.  He  then  went  in  quest  of  constables,  and 
brought  two  with  him  about  nine  o'clock.  With  their  help  he 
so  thoroughly  dispersed  the  mob  that  no  two  of  them  were  left 


1  Holy  Trinity,  the  vicar  of  which  was  *  The  unenclosed  lands  stretched  from 

the  Rev.  William  Mason,  father  of  Mason  the  town  in  the  direction  of  what  is  now 

the  poet,  whom  Wesley  regarded  as  '  full  known    as    '  Pottery  '  {Hull  Methodism, 

as  good  a  poet '  as  Gray.  pp.  7,  8). 


2  2  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Apm  1752. 

together  ;  but  they  rallied  about  twelve,  and  gave  one  charge 
more,  with  oaths,  and  curses,  and  bricks,  and  stones.  After 
this  all  was  calm,  and  I  slept  sound  till  near  four  in  the 
morning. 

About  five,  Saturday  the  25th,  we  took  horse,  and  made  to 
Pocklington.1  I  was  sorry,  when  I  found  it  was  the  fair-da)', 
that  notice  had  been  given  of  my  preaching ;  especially  when 
I  heard  there  was  no  society,  and  scarce  any  one  awakened 
in  the  town.  The  unusual  bitterness  of  several  who  met  us 
in  the  street  made  the  prospect  still  more  unpromising.  How- 
ever, I  went  to  see  the  room  provided  for  preaching,  but 
found  it  was  not  above  five  yards  square.  I  then  looked  at 
a  yard  which  was  proposed ;  but  one  circumstance  of  this 
I  did  not  like.  It  was  plentifully  furnished  with  stones  — 
artillery  ready  at  hand  for  the  devil's  drunken  companions. 
Just  then  it  began  to  rain,  upon  which  a  gentleman  offered 
a  large,  commodious  barn.  Thither  I  went  without  delay, 
and  began  preaching  to  a  few,  who  increased  continually. 
I  have  known  no  such  time  since  we  left  London.  Their 
tears  fell  as  the  rain.  None  opposed  or  mocked,  so  that  these 
made  full  amends  for  the  behaviour  of  those  at  Hull. 

The  man  and  his  wife  at  whose  house  we  dined  had  been 
bitterly  persecuted  both  by  his  and  her  mother.  These  were 
some  of  the  first  whose  hearts  were  touched.  Immediately 
after  preaching  they  came  up  into  the  room  where  we  were, 
and  confessed,  with  many  tears,  how  eagerly  they  had  opposed 
the  truth  of  God,  and  troubled  their  children  for  adhering  to  it. 
How  wise  are  all  the  ways  of  God  !  Had  it  not  been  fair-day, 
these  had  not  been  here. 

Yet  some  of  our  company  had  dreadful  forebodings  of  what 
was  to  be  at  York.  A  worthy  Justice  of  the  Peace  (doubtless 
to  quiet  the  mob  there)  had  just  caused  to  be  cried  about  the 
streets,  stuck  up  in  public  places,  and  even  thrown  into  many 
houses,  part  of  the  Comparison  between  the  Papists  and  Methodists? 
Perhaps  this  might  be  the  occasion  of  some  bitter  curses  which 
were  given  us  almost  as  soon  as  we  entered  the  gates  ;  but  the 
vain  words  of  those  Rabshakehs  returned  into  their  own  bosoms. 


1  For  Methodism  in  Pocklington   see  ■  Lavington's  attack,   originally    pub- 

Meth  Rec.  Feb.  1 8,  1 909.  lished  in  three  parts.     See  above,  p.  3. 


Apm  1782.]  In  the  North  Riding  23 

I  began  preaching  at  six.  The  chapel x  was  filled  with  hearers, 
and  with  the  presence  of  God.  The  opposers  opened  not  their 
mouths.     The  mourners  blessed  God  for  the  consolation.2 

Sun.  26. — At  seven  God  was  with  us  as  before,  and  His  word 
brake  the  rocks  in  pieces.  We  left  York  about  nine,  as  quietly 
as  we  came,  and  rode  to  Acomb.3 

Mon.  27. — We  reached  Osmotherley.  After  preaching  in 
the  evening  I  was  desired  to  visit  a  person  who  had  been  an 
eminent  scoffer  at  all  religion,  but  was  now,  they  said,  '  in  a 
strange  way.'  I  found  her  in  a  strange  way  indeed,  either 
raving  mad  or  possessed  of  the  devil.  The  woman  herself 
affirmed  that  the  devil  had  appeared  to  her  the  day  before,  and, 
after  talking  some  time,  leaped  upon  and  grievously  tormented 
her  ever  since.  We  prayed  with  her.  Her  agonies  ceased  ; 
she  fell  asleep,  and  awakened  in  the  morning  calm  and  easy.4 

Tues.  28. — About  noon  we  reached  Stokesley,  where  I  found 
none  had  ever  yet  preached  abroad.  Samuel  Larwood5  had 
attempted  it,  but  in  vain  ;  and  so  had  Mr.  [William]  Roberts, 
some  time  after ;  but  a  clergyman  came  at  the  head  of  a  large 
mob  and  obliged  him  to  desist.  About  one  the  person  in  whose 
house  we  were  came  in  trembling,  and  told  us  what  threatenings 
were  breathed  out.  I  answered,  '  Then  there  is  no  time  to 
lose,'  and  went  out  immediately.  I  suppose  the  mob  expected 
to  hear  us  sing  ;  but  they  were  disappointed,  for  I  began 
preaching  without  delay.  By  this  means,  missing  their  signal, 
they  came,  not  in  a  body,  but  two  or  three  at  a  time  ;  and  as 
fast  as  they  came  their  minds  were  changed,  so  that  all  were 
quiet  from  the  beginning  to  the  end. 


1  In  College  Street,  near  the  Bedern.  ing  :    '  Laid  out    for  Mr.  John  Wesley, 

It  belonged  to  the  Countess  of  Hunting-  Wife,     daughter,     William    Shent    and 

don,  and  was  only  borrowed  by  Wesley  John  Haime,  5*.  2d.'   See  p.  25.    For  an 

on  this  occasion.  interesting   account   of  this,    the   oldest 

:  On  March  25    he   also   preached  at  Stewards'  Book  in  existence,  see  W.H.S. 

Poppleton.  vol.  iii.  p.  89. 

*  The  place  where  the  '  gentlemen  '  of  s  See  below,  p.  140.     He  was  at  the 

York  so  brutally  treated  John   Nelson.  Bristol  Conference  of  1745  {Works,  vol. 

See  above,  vol.  iii.  p.  290.  viii.  p.  281).    For  his  work  in  Ireland  see 

'  Tradition  calls  her  Elizabeth  Whit-  Crookshank,    vol.    i.,    Index,    especially 

field.      See  Wesley  Studies,  p.  224.     In  p.    25.      Atmore     is    brief    (Memorial, 

the  Osmotherley  Stewards'  Book,  under  p.  239;  see  also  E.M.P.  vol.  i.  p.  246, 

date  April  28,  1752,  appears  the  follow-  vol.  ii.  p.  10). 


24  John   Wesley  s  Journal  rMayi762. 

It  rained  all  the  way  we  rode  to  Stockton  ;  but  was  fair  all 
the  time  I  stood  in  the  main  street,  and  explained  to  a  listening 
multitude  the  joy  that  is  in  heaven  '  over  one  sinner  that 
repenteth.' 

Wed.  29. — I  preached  at  Durham  to  a  quiet,  stupid  con- 
gregation, and  the  next  day  went  on  to  Newcastle.1 

On  Friday  and  Saturday  we  enjoyed  a  little  respite  from 
labour,  and  were  refreshed  both  in  soul  and  body. 

MAY  3,  Sun. — We  had  the  best-dressed  congregation  that 
ever  I  saw  in  this  place.  I  spoke  very  plain,  yet  all  were 
patient,  and  looked  as  if  they  understood  what  was  said.2 

Sat.  9. — I  rode  to  Sunderland,3  where  I  found  one  of  the 
liveliest  societies  in  the  north  of  England.  This  is  the  effect 
of  their  being  so  much  '  under  the  law '  as  to  scruple,  one 
and  all,  the  buying  even  milk  on  a  Sunday.  The  house  hardly 
contained  the  people  at  five  the  next  morning.  At  eight 
and  at  twelve  I  preached  in  the  street,  none  opposing  or 
interrupting.  About  four  I  began  at  Newcastle,  near  the 
Keelmen's  Hospital.  It  was  just  as  I  expected.  Many  who 
had  turned  back  from  the  holy  commandment  once  delivered 
to  them  flocked  together,  and  seemed  convinced  that  God  was 
still  ready  to  return  and  leave  a  blessing  behind  Him. 

Mon.  11. — After  preaching  at  Morpeth  in  my  way,  though 
with  little  present  effect,  I  rode  on  to  Alnwick,  and  preached 
at  the  Cross4  to  a  far  more  numerous  and  more  serious 
congregation. 

Wed.  13. —  I  rode  to  Berwick;  and,  after  preaching,  desired 
all  who  had  been  of  the  society  to  meet  me.  I  spoke  to 
seventeen,  who  were  thoroughly  willing  to  unite  again  ;  and 
(what  was  remarkable)  all  of  them  still  retained  a  sense  of  the 


1  The  Sermon  Register  also  gives  for  bishop  of  Exeter  (Worts,  vol.  ix.  p.  61). 
April,     Shecphill,     Warcla,     'Kighley'  On  May  5  he  preached  at  Morpeth. 
(Keighley),    Swalwell     (apparently    en  :1  The  services  were  held  in  the  north- 
roule)  ;   and,    on    Thursday,    April   30,  west  coiner  of  a  lane  adjoining  Ettrick 
Newcastle.  Garth,  or  Chipchase  Street.     See  Meth. 

2  Fourteen  texts  are  entered  under  Rec.  March  13,  1902 ;  IV. M.  Mag. 
May  3  for  Newcastle.  They  represent  1910,  p.  885.  The  Sermon  Register 
his  work  in  Newcastle  during  this  visit,  has  no  reference  to  Sunderland  in  1752. 
filling  the  gap  between  May  3  and  9.  '  But  not  there  alone.  Five  texts  are 
On    May    8   he    wrote    to    Lavington,  entered. 


p? 

1   ^  -s  I      , 

X  <5            I      - 

c          v. 

Pi      z1 

$ 

".I       .  s       v 

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f  ^  Sxvc 

). 

v       vl".  --'  "i  -'    a   S   5 


25 


May  1762.! 


In  Northumbria  27 


pardoning  love  of  God,  although  they  were  convinced  they  had 
suffered  great  loss  by  a  famine  of  the  word. 

Thar.  14. — At  five  the  soldiers  made  a  considerable  part 
of  the  congregation.     At  noon  they  came  again  in  troops.     One 

of  them,  T W ,  came   last   year  from  the   Highlands, 

and  went  through  Westmorland  to  beat  up  for  recruits.  He 
had  been  earnestly  warned,  before  he  left  Scotland,  on  no 
account  to  go  near  the  Methodists.  But  in  Kendal  he  lighted 
on  two  or  three  ;  from  which  time  they  were  not  one  day 
asunder.  It  was  not  long  before  God  clearly  assured  him 
of  His  pardoning  love.  A  fortnight  after  he  was  ordered  to 
follow  the  regiment  to  Berwick,  where  he  is  continually  ex- 
horting his  comrades  to  be  '  good  soldiers  of  Jesus  Christ.' 
And  many  already  have  listed  under  His  banner. 

Fri.  15.— In  the  afternoon  I  preached  at  Alnmouth.  How 
plain  an  evidence  have  we  here  that  even  our  outward  work, 
even  the  societies,  are  not  of  man's  building  !  With  all  our 
labour  and  skill,  we  cannot,  in  nine  years'  time,  form  a  society 
in  this  place ;  even  though  there  is  none  that  opposes,  poor  or 
rich  :  nay,  though  the  two  richest  men  in  the  town,  and  the 
only  gentlemen  there,  have  done  all  which  was  in  their  power 
to  further  it. 

Sat.  16. — I  rode  on  to  the  poor  colliers  at  Plessey.1  When 
we  came  hither  first,  John  Lane,  then  nine  or  ten  years  old, 
was  one  of  the  first  who  found  peace  with  God.  From  that 
hour  he  continued  to  walk  day  and  night  in  the  light  of  His 
countenance.  I  saw  him  last  year,  longing  to  be  with  Christ ; 
but  he  was  detained  here  a  little  longer,  that  he  might  witness 
'  a  good  confession  '  in  death  as  well  as  in  life.  He  praised 
God  as  long  as  he  had  breath,  and  was  buried  a  day  or  two 
before  I  came. 

Sun.  17  (being  Whit  Sunday). — I  preached  in  the  morning 
at  Gateshead  to  a  huge  congregation,  on  our  Lord's  words, 
'If  any  man  thirst,  let  him  come  unto  Me  and  drink.'  About 
five  I  began  near  the  Keelmen's  Hospital,  many  thousands 
standing  round  or  sitting  on  the  grass.  The  wind  was  high 
just  before,  but  scarce  a  breath   was  felt  all  the  time  we  were 


1  Seaton,   Gateshead  Fell,    Gateshead,    Garth  Heads,  and  Barnard   Castle,    are 
also  in  the  Sermon  Register. 


28  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [May  1752. 

assembled  before  God.  I  praised  God  for  this  also.  Is  it 
enthusiasm  to  see  God  in  every  benefit  which  we  receive  ? 

Mon.  18. — I  preached  at  Newlands,  and  endeavoured  to 
remove  the  offences  which  had  crept  in  among  the  simple 
people.  In  the  evening  I  preached  at  Sheep  Hill.1  It  rained 
all  the  time,  but  that  little  disturbed  either  the  congregation  or 
me. 

Tues.  19. — I  preached  at  Whickham,  before  Mrs.  Armstrong's 
door.  I  was  a  little  surprised  at  the  account  she  gave  of  God's 
late  dealings  with  her.  When  her  ancient  husband,  with  whom 
she  had  lived  from  her  youth,  was,  on  account  of  a  debt  con- 
tracted by  his  son,  hurried  away,  and  thrown  into  Durham 
Jail — which  soon  put  an  end  to  his  life  ;  when  she  was  likely 
to  lose  all  she  had,  and  to  be  turned  out  of  doors  at  fourscore 
years  of  age  ;  still  the  oracles  of  God,  which  she  had  loved  from 
a  child,  were  her  delight  and  her  counsellors.  But  one  day,  when 
she  put  on  her  spectacles  to  read,  she  could  not  see  a  word.  She 
was  startled  at  first  ;  but  soon  said,  '  It  is  the  Lord  ;  let  Him  do 
what  seemeth  Him  good.'  She  laid  her  spectacles  down,  and 
casting  her  eye  on  the  corner  of  the  Bible,  thought  she  could 
discern  some  letters.  Taking  up  the  book,  she  read  as  well  as 
her  daughter  could,  and  from  that  hour  she  could  not  only  read 
without  spectacles,  but  sew,  or  thread  the  finest  needle,  with  the 
same  ease  as  when  she  was  thirty  years  of  age. 

Wed.  20. — I  preached  at  Biddick  to  a  multitude  of  colliers, 
though  it  rained  hard  all  the  time.  They  seemed  all,  even  some 
who  had  long  drawn  back,  to  be  melted  down  as  wax  before  the 
fire.  So  strong  and  general  an  influence  on  a  congregation  I  do 
not  remember  to  have  seen  for  some  years.2 

Sun.  24. — The  congregation  at  the  Keelmen's  Hospital  was 
far  too  large  for  my  voice  to  command.  I  doubt  not  more  than 
two-thirds  could  hear,  but  all  were  still  till  I  commended  them 
to  the  grace  of  God. 

Mon.  25. — We  rode  to  Durham,  and  thence,  through  very 


1  The   Sermon    Register   gives    Wid-  ( Works,  vol.   xii.  p.   177).     He   consults 

drington  for  May.  the  leading  layman  in  London  Methodism 

-  On  May  21  he  returned  to  Newcastle,  on    his   Book    affairs.      The    Newcastle 

and  on  the  23rd  preached  at  Gateshead  Methodists,  he  says,  '  are  plain,  artless, 

Fell   and   wrote  a    letter  to    Blackwell  and  simple  of  heart.' 


Ma?  i752.i  In  the  Dales  29 

rough  roads  and  as  rough  weather,  to  Barnard  Castle.1  I  was 
exceeding  faint  when  we  came  in  ;  however,  the  time  being 
come,  I  went  into  the  street,  and  would  have  preached,  but  the 
mob  was  so  numerous  and  so  loud  that  it  was  not  possible  for 
many  to  hear.  Nevertheless,  I  spoke  on,  and  those  who  were 
near  listened  with  huge  attention.  To  prevent  this,  some  of  the 
rabble  fetched  the  engine,  and  threw  a  good  deal  of  water  on 
the  congregation  ;  but  not  a  drop  fell  on  me.  After  about 
three-quarters  of  an  hour,  I  returned  into  the  house.2 

Tues.  26. — At  five  the  preaching-house  would  not  contain  one 
half  of  the  congregation.  Many  stood  at  the  door  and  windows 
—  far  more  than  could  hear.  When  I  come  again,  perhaps  they 
will  hear  while  they  may. 

We  rode  hence  to  Weardale.  I  had  been  out  of  order  all 
night,  and  found  myself  now  much  weaker.  However,  I  trusted 
in  the  Strong  for  strength,  and  began  preaching  to  a  numerous 
congregation  ;  and  I  did  not  want  strength  till  I  had  finished 
my  discourse,  nor  did  the  people  want  a  blessing. 

In  the  evening  we  came  to  Allendale,  and  found  the  poor 
society  wellnigh  shattered  in  pieces.  Slackness  and  offence  had 
eaten  them  up.  When  I  came  into  the  room  1  was  just  like  one 
of  them,  having  neither  life  nor  strength,  and  being  scarce  able 
either  to  speak  or  to  stand.  But  immediately  we  had  a  token 
for  good.  In  a  moment  I  was  well.  My  voice  and  strength 
were  entirely  restored,  and  I  cried  aloud,  '  How  shall  I  give 
thee  up,  Ephraim  ?  '  The  mountains  again  flowed  down  at  His 
presence,  and  the  rocks  were  once  more  broken  in  pieces. 

Wed.  27. — I  preached  at  Clifton,  near  Penrith,  to  a  civil 
people,  who  looked  just  as  if  I  had  been  talking  Greek.  The 
next  day  we  went  on  to  Lorton,3  a  little  village  lying  in  a  green, 

1  He  preached  at  Chester-le-Street  en  Rev.  Thomas  S.  Monkhouse,  seized  the 
route.  In  1747  Joseph  Cheeseborough,  nozzle  and  diverted  the  stream  of  water 
a  native  of  Barnard  Castle,  became  from  Wesley  (Life  of  T.  S.  Monkhouse, 
acquainted  with  the  Methodists  in  Leeds,  p.  4).  In  May  Wesley  preached  at  Miller 
where  he  was  then  residing.  On  his  Barn  (see  below,  p.  32,  which  may 
removal  to  his  native  town  he  began  to  have  been  a  second  visit), 
tell  his  neighbours  of  the  new  life.  He  '  See  Wordsworth's  poem,  ■  Yew- 
found  a  helper  in  Mrs.  Catherine  Graves,  trees ' : 
who  had   travelled   with   Whitefield  in 

Scotland,  and  settled  in  Barnard  Castle.  ™"?  is  a  ^"'J"'  prid?  of  Lo'ton  Vale- 

c        m  „i    d       m-  t».t  o  Which  to  this  day  stands  single,  in  the 

bee  Meth.  Rec.  Winter  No.,  1900,  p.  84.  midst 

'  John  Monkhouse,  grandfather  of  the  Of  its  own  darkness,  as  it  stood  of  yore. 


30  John   Wesley  s  Journal  tJune  1752. 

fruitful  valley,  surrounded  by  high  mountains,  the  sides  of  which 
are  covered  with  grass  and  woods,  and  the  bottom  watered  by 
two  small  rivers.  Here  I  found  myself  much  out  of  order  again. 
However,  at  six  I  preached  to  a  very  large  and  serious  congrega- 
tion. The  ministers  of  Lorton  and  of  the  next  parish  were 
among  them,  that  they  might  hear  and  judge  for  themselves. 

Fri.  29. — I  preached  at  noon  to  a  very  different  congregation, 
in  the  Castleyard  at  Cockermouth.  However,  they  behaved 
with  decency,  none  interrupting  or  making  any  noise. 

About  five  we  reached  Whitehaven.  After  a  little  rest,  I  went 
to  the  room  ;  but  it  was  rather  to  be  seen  than  heard.  However, 
I  spoke  as  I  could  for  about  half  an  hour,  and  then  immediately 
went  to  bed.  But  I  could  not  sleep,  having  a  violent  flux,  with 
a  fever,  and  continual  pain  in  my  stomach.  Yet  at  twelve  I  fell 
into  a  doze,  and  from  that  time  began  to  recover. 

On  Sunday \  in  the  afternoon,  I  ventured  to  church,  and  in  the 
evening  preached  as  I  was  able.1 

June  i,  Mon. — I  examined  the  society,  and  praised  God  on 
their  behalf. 

Tues.  2. — I  rode  to  Seaton,  a  town  of  colliers,  ten  measured 
miles  from  Whitehaven.  The  poor  people  had  prepared  a  kind 
of  pulpit  for  me,  covered  at  the  top  and  on  both  sides,  and  had 
placed  a  cushion  to  kneel  upon  of  the  greenest  turf  in  the 
country.  But  my  voice  was  still  so  low  that  I  fear  not  half 
of  those  who  were  present  could  hear. 

Wed.  3. — I  was  able  to  preach  again  in  the  morning.  One  of 
our  friends,  who  was  master  of  a  ship,  purposing  to  set  sail  on 
Thursday  the  4th  for  Dublin,  I  knew  not  but  it  would  be  well  to 
go  over  with  him,  supposing  the  wind  should  turn  fair.  It  did 
turn  fair  that  very  morning  ;  but,  being  suddenly  called  on 
board,  he  sailed  without  us.  In  about  six  hours  the  wind  turned 
foul.     So  I  suppose  he  came  back  the  next  morning. 

In  the  afternoon  we  rode  to  Mr.  Blencowe's,  about  fifteen 
miles  from  Whitehaven.  We  took  a  walk  in  the  evening  to  a 
little  town  called  Drigg,  about  a  mile  from  his  house,  where  I 
preached  to  a  small  company  of  plain,  serious  people  ;  but  I 
fear  they  understood  very  little  of  what  they  heard. 


1  The  Sermon  Register  adds  Seaton  for  May,  and  Oldfield  Brow  for  June. 


June  1762.1 


In  Lancashire  31 


Fri.  5. — I  went  on  with  Mr.  Milner  1  to  Ulverston.  Here 
a  very  convenient  place  for  preaching  was  offered  ;  but  few 
people  had  any  desire  to  hear,  so  I  went  quietly  back  to 
my  inn. 

Sat.  6. — We  reached  Chipping,  and  were  immediately 
informed  that  several  there  were  consulting  together  how  to 
hinder  me  from  preaching.  Mr.  Milner,  hearing  they  were 
met  at  the  next  house,  went  thither,  and  brought  them  all 
with  him,  who  were  the  churchwardens  and  three  or  four 
persons  more.  I  spent  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour  with  them 
in  calm  and  friendly  debate ;  and  they  went  away  much  cooler 
than  they  came. 

Sun.  7. — Understanding  some  designed  to  go  out  of  church 
when  I  went  into  the  pulpit,  I  thought  it  would  be  better  for 
them  to  go  out  sooner  ;  and  to  read  prayers  as  well  as  preach. 
Such  a  congregation  was  present  as  I  believe  was  never  seen 
there  before  ;  and  a  solemn  awe  seemed  to  rest  on  the  whole 
congregation,  from  the  beginning  of  the  service  to  the  end. 

I  preached  in  the  afternoon  on  the  conclusion  of  the  Second 
Lesson,  '  God  was  in  Christ,  reconciling  the  world  unto  Himself 
The  people  were  all  attention.  Surely  there  is  no  counsel  or 
strength  against  the  Lord. 

Mon.  8. — We  rode  to  Roughlee,  and  found  a  large,  serious, 
and  quiet  congregation.  There  have  been  no  tumults  since 
Mr.  White  was  removed.2  He  was  for  some  years  a  Popish 
priest.  Then  he  called  himself  a  Protestant,  and  had  the  living 
of  Colne.  It  was  his  manner  first  to  hire,  and  then  head  the 
mob,  when  they  and  he  were  tolerably  drunk.  But  he  drank 
himself  first  into  a  jail,  and  then  into  his  grave. 

In  the  evening  I  preached  at  Heptonstall.  An  attorney  who 
happened  to  be  in  the  town  endeavoured  to  interrupt,  relating 
some  low,  threadbare  stories  with  a  very  audible  voice.  But 
some  of  the  people  cut  him  short  in  the  midst  by  carrying  him 
quietly  away. 


1  Rev.  J.  Milner,  vicar  of  Chipping.  and,  on  the  recommendation  of  Arch- 
See  above,  vol.  iii.  p.  521  ;  also  Laycock's  bishop  Potter,  was  presented  to  Colne 
Methodist  Heroes,^.  77-83.  Milner  re-  and  Marsden  by  the  vicar  of  Whalley. 
tained  the  living  till  his  death  in  1777.  See  Moore's  Burnley,  p.   16  ;     W.H.S. 

~  See  above,  vol.  iii.  p.  370.  White  had  vol.  iii.  p.  53  ;  Life  of  C.  of  Huntingdon, 

been  educated  at  Douay.     He  recanted,  vol.  i.  pp.  259,  261. 


32  John    Wesley  s  Journal  rjunei752. 

Tues.  g. —  I  preached  at  six  to  abundance  of  people  near 
Ewood,  and  with  an  uncommon  blessing.  Hence  we  rode  to 
Todmorden.  The  minister  was  slowly  recovering  from  a  violent 
fit  of  a  palsy,  with  which  he  was  struck  immediately  after  he  had 
been  preaching  a  virulent  sermon  against  the  Methodists. 

I  preached  on  the  side  of  a  mountain  to  a  large  and  earnest 
congregation,  and  then  went  on  to  Miller  Barn.  I  preached  at 
six  in  the  town,  and  I  suppose  all  the  inhabitants,  young  and 
old,  were  present.  Nor  have  I  often  seen  so  large  a  congregation 
so  universally  and  deeply  affected. 

My  lodging  was  not  such  as  I  should  have  chosen,  but  what 
Providence  chooses  is  always  good.  My  bed  was  considerably 
under  ground,  the  room  serving  both  for  a  bed-chamber  and  a 
cellar.  The  closeness  was  more  troublesome  at  first  than  the 
coolness,  but  I  let  in  a  little  fresh  air  by  breaking  a  pane  of 
paper  (put  by  way  of  glass)  in  the  window,  and  then  slept  sound 
till  the  morning. 

Fri.  12. — I  rode  to  Bolton.1  So  hot  a  day  as  this  I  do  not 
remember  to  have  felt  in  England.  The  congregation  seemed 
to  forget  the  heat,  though  the  room  was  like  an  oven.  For 
it  was  a  comfortable  hour — God  refreshing  many  souls  with 
the  multitude  of  peace. 

Sat.  13. — The  house  was  fuller  this  evening  than  the  last, 
while  I  enforced  that  gracious  invitation,  '  Come  unto  Me,  all 
ye  that  are  weary  and  heavy  laden.' 

Sun.  14. — After  preaching  in  the  evening  I  took  occasion 
to  tell  the  whole  congregation  that  there  had  been  a  mistake 
concerning  the  house,  which  J[ohn]  B[ennet]  imagined  I  had 
contrived  to  make  my  own  property  2 ;  but  Mr.  Grimshaw  had 
now  cleared  it  up,  having  assured  Mr.  B[ennet]  (1)  that  I  knew 
nothing  of  the  deed  relating  to  the  house  till  after  it  was  made  ; 
(2)  that  I  had  no  property  in  it  still ;  only  a  clause  was  inserted 
whereby  Mr.  G[rimshaw],  my  brother,  and  I  were  empowered 
to  appoint  the  preachers  therein. 

Mon.  15. — I  had  many  little  trials  in  this  journey  of  a  kind 
I  had  not  known  before.  I  had  borrowed  a  young,  strong  mare 
when  I  set  out  from  Manchester  ;  but  she  fell  lame  before  I  got 


1  Musgrave's     Early    Methodism    in  '-'  The     'house'    was    in    Acresfield. 

Bolton,  p.  16.  See  above,  p.  15. 


June  1752.]  An  '  Account '  33 

to  Grimsby.  I  procured  another,  but  was  dismounted  again 
between  Newcastle  and  Berwick.  At  my  return  to  Manchester 
I  took  my  own  ;  but  she  had  lamed  herself  in  the  pasture. 
I  thought,  nevertheless,  to  ride  her  four  or  five  miles  to-day  ; 
but  she  was  gone  out  of  the  ground,  and  we  could  hear  nothing 
of  her.  However,  I  comforted  myself  that  I  had  another  at 
Manchester  which  I  had  lately  bought  ;  but  when  I  came 
thither  I  found  one  had  borrowed  her  too,  and  rode  her  away 
to  Chester. 

About  noon  I  preached  near  Shackerley,  at  an  old  man's  house 
who  was  groaning  for  redemption.  We  walked  together  a  little 
way  after  preaching,  and  almost  as  soon  as  we  parted  the 
power  of  God  fell  upon  him,  so  that  he  hardly  knew  whether 
he  was  on  earth  or  in  heaven.  From  that  hour  he  has  been 
continually  filled  with  peace  and  joy  in  believing. 

At  my  return  to  Bolton  I  wrote  down  a  particular  account 
of  one  that  lately  adorned  the  gospel.     It  was  as  follows  : 

In  April  1746,  Catherine  Whitaker  went  to  Halifax  to  hear  John 
Nelson.     She  was  before  convinced  of  the  truth  by  reading,  and  from 

that  time  grew  more  and  more  serious.     The  next  year  John  H 

called  at  our  house.  As  he  was  going  he  turned  back,  took  her  by 
the  hand,  and  said,  '  You  must  believe,  whether  you  can  or  no.'  As 
soon  as  he  was  gone  she  began  crying  to  God,  and  ceased  not  till 
she  knew  she  did  believe  in  Christ.  She  never  afterward  lost  the 
sense  of  His  love,  nor  could  she  rest,  if  she  found  the  least  cloud, 
till  it  was  wholly  removed,  and  the  clear  light  shone  again  upon  her 
soul. 

In  May  1750  she  removed  to  Bolton,  and  soon  after  appeared 
to  be  consumptive.  But  she  did  not  spare  herself  on  that  account, 
still  rising  at  five,  four,  or  three  in  the  morning,  and  continuing  to 
teach  her  scholars  as  usual,  till  about  Christmas  175 1.  From  that 
time  her  bodily  strength  failed,  though  she  did  not  keep  her  room  till 
March.  She  was  then  afraid  lest  she  should  live  to  be  a  burden  to 
her  relations ;  but  that  fear  soon  vanished  away,  and  she  said,  '  Now 
I  can  leave  it  all  to  God.  Let  me  die  sooner  or  later,  it  is  all  one.'  But 
she  had  still  some  struggle  concerning  her  husband  before  she  was 
thoroughly  willing  to  give  him  up. 

The  next  Friday  but  one  before  she  died  one  of  her  sisters,  sitting 
by  her,  began  singing  : 

'  Oh  happy,  happy  day, 
That  calls  the  exiles  home 


34  John   Wesley  s  Journal  fjune  1752. 

She  immediately  joined  with  her,  and  sung  on  to  the  end  of  the  hymn. 
The  Thursday  after  she  looked  round  upon  us,  and  said,  '  Oh  how 
I  love  you  all !  I  am  all  love.  I  love  every  soul  God  has  made.' 
Her  husband  asked,  '  Are  you  happy  ? '     She  said,  '  Oh  yes  : 


'Sing  on,  sing  on 


'  I  cannot  fear,  I  cannot  doubt, 
I  feel  the  sprinkled  blood, 

'  Let  every  soul  with  me  cry  out, 
"Thou  art  my  Lord,  my  God."' 


At  breakfast  she  desired  a  little  cold  water,  on  receiving  which  she 
looked  up  and  said,  '  In  a  little  while  I  shall  drink  new  wine  in  the 
kingdom  of  my  Father.'     About  ten  o'clock  she  broke  out : 

'  My  God  is  reconciled, 

His  pard'ning  voice  I  hear, 
He  owns  me  for  His  child, 
I  can  no  longer  fear.' 

One  asking  her  how  she  did,  she  said,  '  I  long  to  be  with  Him 
whom  my  soul  loveth.'  On  Friday  and  Saturday,  being  extremely 
weak,  she  spake  very  little.  On  Sunday  morning  she  said,  '  So  the 
Lord  hath  brought  us  to  another  Sabbath.  "  Vouchsafe,  O  Lord, 
to  keep  us  this  day  without  sin." '  She  then  partly  sung,  and  partly 
repeated,  that  hymn  : 

1  Oh  when  shall  I  sweetly  remove, 
Oh  when  shall  I  enter  my  rest  ? 
Return  to  the  Sion  above, 
The  mother  of  spirits  distressed  ?  ' 

She  then  said,  '  Who  is  in  the  house  ?  Oh,  I  do  not  love  the  staying  at 
home  on  a  Sunday.  Desire  them  all  to  go  to  church.  When  I  was 
most  diligent  in  going  to  church  I  always  found  the  greatest  blessings.' 
At  night  she  said,  '  Swelled  legs.  For  a  little  time  :  there  will  be 
no  swelled  legs  in  heaven.'  About  five  on  Monday  morning,  March  23, 
her  husband  asked,  '  Do  you  know  me  ? '  She  said,  '  Yes,  I  do ' ;  and, 
putting  her  arm  round  his  neck,  quickly  began  to  slumber.  Waking 
soon  after,  she  said,  '  1  must  make  haste  and  dress  myself  for  the 
Bridegroom.'  She  then  dozed  afresh ;  but,  waking  in  a  few  minutes, 
said,  '  I  am  going  to  Christ ' ;  and  fell  asleep.1 

Sat.  20. —  I   rode  to  Chester,2  and   preached    at  six  in   the 


'  On  June  1 7,  according  to  the  Sermon  ''  For  the  introduction  of  Methodism  into 

Register,    he    returned    to    Manchester  Chester  see   Bretherton's  Early    Metho- 

and  preached  two  days,  hut  he  does  not  dism  in  Chester,  p.  26  ;  Janion's    Metho- 

say  where.  There  seems  to  be  an  allusion  dism  in  Chester,  p.  16  ;  Meth.  Rec.  March 

to  this  return  visit  on  p.  33.  23,  1899  ;  and  W.M.  Mag.  1904,  p.  207. 


June  1752.]  The   Walls  and  Rows  of  Chester  35 

accustomed  place,  a  little  without  the  gates,  near  St.  John's 
Church.  One  single  man,  a  poor  alehouse  keeper,  seemed 
disgusted,  spoke  a  harmless  word,  and  ran  away  with  all  speed. 
All  the  rest  behaved  with  the  utmost  seriousness  while  I  declared 
'  the  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.' 

Sun.  21. — I  preached  at  seven  in  a  much  larger  house,  which 
was  just  taken  near  St.  Martin's  Church — as  eminent  a  part 
of  the  town  as  Drury  Lane  is  in  London,  or  as  the  Horsefair 

was  in  Bristol.     At  church  Mr.  L preached  a  strong,  plain, 

useful  sermon  upon  the  faith  of  Abraham.  At  one  I  began 
preaching  again  on  '  We  preach  not  ourselves,  but  Christ  Jesus 
the  Lord '  ;  but,  the  house  not  containing  half  the  congregation, 
I  was  obliged  to  stand  at  the  door,  on  one  side  of  a  kind  of 
square,  large  enough  to  contain  ten  or  twelve  thousand  people. 
I  had  a  few  hours  before  spoken  to  the  captain  of  a  vessel,  with 
whom  I  proposed  to  sail  for  Dublin  ;  and,  the  wind  being  fair, 
I  knew  not  whether  I  should  stay  to  preach  another  sermon 
in  Chester.  I  find  it  useful  to  be  in  such  a  state  of  suspense, 
wherein  I  know  not  what  will  be  the  next  hour,  but  lean 
absolutely  on  His  disposal,  who  knoweth  and  ruleth  all  things 
well. 

At  four  I  preached  in  the  Square  to  a  much  larger  con- 
gregation, among  whom  were  abundance  of  gentry.  One  man 
screamed  and  hallooed  as  loud  as  he  could,  but  none  seconded 
or  regarded  him.  The  rest  of  the  congregation  were  steadily 
serious  from  the  beginning  to  the  end. 

Mon.  22. — We  walked  round  the  walls  of  the  city,  which 
are  something  more  than  a  mile  and  three  quarters  in  circum- 
ference ;  but  there  are  many  vacant  spaces  within  the  walls, 
many  gardens,  and  a  good  deal  of  pasture  ground  ;  so  that 
I  believe  Newcastle-upon-Tyne,  within  the  walls,  contains  at 
least  a  third  more  houses  than  Chester. 

The  greatest  convenience  here  is  what  they  call  'the  Rows'; 
that  is,  covered  galleries,  which  run  through  the  main  streets 
on  each  side,  from  east  to  west,  and  from  north  to  south,  by 
which  means  one  may  walk  both  clean  and  dry  in  any  weather 
from  one  end  of  the  city  to  the  other. 

I  preached  at  six  in  the  evening  in  the  Square  to  a  vast 
multitude,  rich  and  poor.     The  far  greater  part,  the  gentry  in 


3 6  John   Wesley  s  Journal 


[July  1782. 


particular,  were  seriously  and  deeply  attentive,  though  a  few 
of  the  rabble,  most  of  them  drunk,  laboured  much  to  make  a 
disturbance.  One  might  already  perceive  a  great  increase  of 
earnestness  in  the  generality  of  the  hearers.  So  is  God  able 
to  cut  short  His  work,  to  wound  or  heal,  in  whatever  time  it 
pleaseth  Him. 

Tues.  23. — Having  received  letters  which  made  me  judge 
it  necessary  to  be  at  Bristol  as  soon  as  possible,  about  ten 
I  set  out,  dined  at  Birmingham  the  next  day,  and  thence  rode 
to  Redditch. 

Thur.  25. — Finding  the  congregation  waiting,  I  began 
preaching  between  three  and  four.  I  preached  at  Wallbridge, 
near  Stroud,  in  the  evening,  and  the  next  day,  before  noon, 
reached  Kingswood.1 

JULY  i,  Wed. — Having  finished  my  business  at  Bristol, 
I  took  horse  again,  and  preached  that  evening  at  Evesham. 

Thur.  2. — I  reached  Bilbrook  and  Chester. 

Fri.  3. — I  was  saying  in  the  morning  to  Mr.  Parker,  '  Con- 
sidering the  good  which  has  been  done  there  already,  I  wonder 
the  people  of  Chester  are  so  quiet.'  He  answered,  '  You  must 
not  expect  they  will  be  so  always.'  Accordingly,  one  of  the  first 
things  1  heard  after  I  came  into  the  town  was  that  for  two  nights 
before  the  mob  had  been  employed  in  pulling  down  the  house 
where  I  had  preached.  I  asked,  '  Were  there  no  magistrates 
in  the  city  ? '  Several  answered  me,  '  We  went  to  the  mayor 
after  the  first  riot,  and  desired  a  warrant  to  bring  the  rioters 
before  him  ;  but  he  positively  refused  to  grant  any,  or  to  take 
any  informations  about  it.'  So,  being  undisturbed,  they  assembled 
again  the  next  night,  and  finished  their  work. 

Sat.  4. — I  preached  in  our  old  room.2 

Sun.  5. — I  stood,  at  seven  in  the  morning,  near  the  ruins 
of  the  house,  and  explained  the  principles  and  practice  of  that 
sect  which  is  '  everywhere  spoken  against.'  I  went  afterwards 
to  St.  Martin's  Church,  which  stands  close  to  the  place.  The 
gentleman  who  officiated 3  seemed   to  be  extremely  moved  at 


1  In  June  he  preached  at  Thompson's  s  Probably   the  Rev.   John   Baldwin, 
Cross,  and  at  Bristol  on  June  27  and  29.  M.  A.,  vicar  from  1739-93  (Bretherton's 

2  He  preached  also,  during  this  visit,  Early  Methodism  in  Chester,  p.  34). 
at  Tattenhall. 


July  1752.]  Chester,  Bolton,    Whitehaven  37 

several  passages  of  the  Second  Lesson,  Luke  xvii.  ;  particularly, 
'  It  is  impossible  but  that  offences  will  come  ;  but  woe  unto  him 
through  whom  they  come.  It  were  better  for  him  that  a  mill- 
stone were  hanged  about  his  neck,  and  he  cast  into  the  sea,  than 
that  he  should  offend  one  of  these  little  ones.' 

He  began  his  sermon  nearly  in  these  words :  '  The  last 
Lord's  Day  I  preached  on  "  Doing  as  you  would  be  done  to," 
in  hopes  of  preventing  such  proceedings  as  are  contrary  to  all 
justice,  mercy,  and  humanity.  As  I  could  not  do  that,  I  have 
chosen  these  words  for  your  present  consideration,  "  Ye  know 
not  what  manner  of  spirit  ye  are  of.  For  the  Son  of  Man  is 
not  come  to  destroy  men's  lives,  but  to  save  them."  ' 

He  concluded  nearly  thus  :  '  I  am  sorry  any  such  outrage 
should  be  committed,  particularly  in  this  parish,  where  I  have 
been  teaching  so  many  years.  And  to  how  little  purpose  !  I 
will  remove,  as  soon  as  possibly  I  can,  from  a  place  where 
I  can  do  so  little  good.  Oh  what  an  account  have  they  to 
make,  who  have  either  occasioned  or  encouraged  these  pro- 
ceedings !  May  God  grant  that  they  may  repent  in  time  !  That 
they  may  know  what  spirit  they  are  of!  That  they  may,  before 
it  is  too  late,  acknowledge  and  love  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus  ! ' 

I  preached  again  in  the  same  place  at  one  and  at  four,  and 
the  whole  congregation  were  quiet  and  serious. 

Mon.  6. — Finding  no  ship  ready  to  sail,  I  determined  to 
return  to  Whitehaven  ;  so  I  took  horse  with  my  wife  between 
nine  and  ten,  and  in  the  evening  preached  at  Manchester. 

Tues.  7. — We  rode  to  Bolton  ;  on  Wednesday,  to  Chipping ; 
and  on  Friday  the  10th  reached  Whitehaven.1 

Sun.  12. — I  took  my  old  stand  in  the  market-place,  about 
seven  in  the  morning,  and  proclaimed  '  The  Lord  God,  gracious 
and  merciful,  forgiving  iniquity,  transgression,  and  sin.'  In  the 
afternoon  we  had  an  awakening  sermon  at  the  new  church  on 
'  One  thing  is  needful.'  At  five  I  preached  in  the  room  on 
'  To  fear  the  Lord,  that  is  wisdom  ;  and  to  depart  from  evil  is 
understanding.' 

Mon.  13. — I  bespoke  the  cabin  in  a  ship  bound  for  Dublin, 
which  only  waited  for  a  wind.     About  ten  at  night  word  was 


1  On  July   10  he   preached  at  Wall-       near  Whitehaven,  during  this  month,  and 
bridge  ;   he    also  preached  at    the  Gins,       at  Passage,  in  Ireland. 

VOL.    IV  3 


38  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Juiyi762. 

brought  that  she  was  ready  to  sail.  We  went  down  to  the 
quay  immediately,  and  found  she  had  sailed  out  a  quarter 
of  an  hour  before,  and  was  then  off  at  sea  ;  but  as  another 
ship  had  just  weighed  anchor,  we  went  on  board,  and  sailed 
without  delay.  But  having  contrary  winds,  it  was  Friday  the 
17th,  in  the  evening,  before  we  reached  Dublin. 

The  house '  here  is  nearly  of  the  same  size,  and  of  the  same 
form,  with  that  at  Newcastle  ;  but,  having  deep  galleries  on 
three  sides,  it  will  contain  a  larger  number  of  people. 

Sun.  19. — I  preached  at  five  and  eight,  but  not  to  so  large 
a  congregation  as  I  expected.  I  was  greatly  shocked  at  the 
behaviour  of  the  congregation  in  St.  Patrick's  Church.  But  all 
their  carelessness  and  indecency  did  not  prevent  my  finding 
an  uncommon  blessing.  Between  five  and  six  our  house  was 
nearly  filled,  but  great  part  of  the  hearers  seemed  utterly 
unawakened.  I  marvel  how  it  is  that,  after  all  our  labour  here, 
there  should  still  be  so  little  fruit. 

Mon.  20. — I  learned  the  particulars  of  the  late  riot.  Some 
weeks  ago  a  large  mob  assembled  one  evening,  broke  many 
of  the  windows,  and  had  just  broke  into  the  house,  when  a 
guard  of  soldiers  came.  The  chief  rioters  were  apprehended 
and  tried  ;  but  ten  or  eleven  of  the  jurymen,  being  Papists, 
frightened  the  twelfth,  so  that  he  did  not  contradict  when  they 
brought  in  their  fellows  '  Not  guilty.' 2 

Tues.  21. —  I  inquired  into  the  state  of  the  society,  still 
consisting  of  about  four  hundred  and  twenty  members,  though 
many  had  been  much  shaken,  chiefly  by  various  opinions,  which 
some  even  of  our  own  preachers  had  propagated. 

Thur.  23. — We  went  to  see  a  friend  a  few  miles  from  Dublin. 
Before  dinner  Mr.  [Joseph]  Cownley  and  I  took  a  walk  on 
the  sea-shore.  Being  somewhat  tired,  we  thought  to  return 
a  shorter  way,  by  climbing  over  the  rocks.  We  found  little 
difficulty  at  first,  the  ascent  not  being  steep  toward  the 
bottom  ;  but,  as  we  went  higher,  it  grew  steeper  and  steeper, 
till   we  would   gladly  have   gone  back  if  we  could.     But   we 


1  The  new  chapel  in  Whitefriar  Street.  on  the  voyage,  on  Book  Affairs,  on 
See  Crookshank,  Methodism  in  Ireland,  the  trial  of  the  rioters,  and  on  a  non- 
vol.  i.  p.  88  ;  below,  p.  375.  helpful  companionship  (Works,  vol.  xii. 

2  On  this  day  he  wrote  to  Black  well,  p.  178). 


Aug.  1753.1  An  Irish   Tour  39 

could  neither  go  nor  look  back  ;  so  that  we  had  only  this 
choice — to  get  quite  to  the  top,  or  to  make  one  step  to  the 
bottom.  The  stones,  likewise,  on  which  we  stood,  or  which 
we  took  hold  of,  frequently  gave  way,  and  tumbled  ;  so  that 
I  know  not  whether  we  were  ever  in  so  much  danger  on  the  sea 
as  we  were  now  on  the  shore.  But  in  half  an  hour,  I  know  not 
how,  we  got  upon  firm,  even  ground.1 

Sun.  26. — I  met  one  whom  I  had  formerly  seen  at  Bristol 
heaping  up  money  with  both  hands ;  and  he  has  now  all  that 
the  world  can  give.  But  he  enjoys  nothing ;  having  such  a 
continual  lowness  of  spirits,  as  they  call  it,  that  his  very  life 
is  a  burden.  He  seems  partly  to  understand  his  own  case. 
May  the  great  Physician  heal  his  sickness  ! 

Mon.  27. — I  preached  in  Edenderry  at  one,  and  at  Closeland 
in  the  evening. 

Tues.  28. — I  preached  at  Portarlington,  though  I  was  ex- 
tremely ill,  and  it  was  a  pain  to  me  to  speak  ;  but  it  was  a 
comfortable  pain.  I  could  from  my  heart  praise  God  for  His 
fatherly  visitation. 

Wed.  29. — I  rode  to  Mountmellick,  but  was  so  hoarse  and 
weak  that  I  could  only  preach  in  the  house. 

Fri.  31. — Being  not  well  able  to  ride,  I  borrowed  Mr.  P 's 

chair  to  Tullamore  ;  and  on  Saturday  reached  Coolalough,2  and 
met  many  of  my  friends  from  all  parts.  I  now  found  my  strength 
increasing  daily.     It  must  be  as  my  day  is. 

Aug.  2,  Sun. — I  baptized  Joseph  English  (late  a  Quaker), 
and  two  of  his  children.  Abundance  of  people  were  at  Tyrrell's 
Pass  in  the  evening,  many  more  than  the  house  could  contain. 
At  five  in  the  morning  one  who  had  tasted  of  the  love  of  God 
but  had  afterwards  relapsed  into  his  former  sins,  nay,  and  sunk 
into  Deism,  if  not  Atheism,  was  once  more  cut  to  the  heart.  At 
six  in  the  evening  I  preached  at  Drumcree,  where  many  now 
know  in  whom  they  have  believed.     Mr.  Booker,3  the  minister  of 


1  See    W.H.S.    vol.   v.  p.   70.      This  which  the  Methodists  resorted  from  far 
looks   like  a   holiday    jaunt.      But    the  and  near.     See  also  below,  p.  175. 
Sermon  Register  shows  that  he  preached  3  Rev.   Moore   Booker,   of  Drumcree, 
three  times.  vicar    of    Delvin.       See    Meth.    Mag., 

2  This  was  probably  the  beginning  of  Dublin,  1810,  pp.  81-3,  and  Crook- 
the  quarterly  meetings  which  for  many  shank's  Methodism  in  Ireland,  vol.  i. 
years  were  held  at    Coolalough,  and  to  p.  go. 


40  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Aug.  1762. 

D[elvin],  met  me  here — the  last  man  I  should  have  expected. 
But  it  cannot  last.  The  same  person  cannot  long  admire  both 
John  Wesley  and  John  Taylor.1 

Tues.  4. — I  preached  about  noon  at  Street  to  a  civil,  uncon- 
cerned congregation,  and  about  six  in  the  evening  at  Abbeyderg, 
a  mile  short  of  Keenagh.  Many  Romanists  being  present,  I 
found  much  concern  for  them,  and  could  not  but  address  myself 
to  them  in  particular,  and  exhort  them  wholly  to  rely  on  the  one 
Mediator  between  God  and  man. 

Wed.  5.— We  rode  to  Athlone.2 

Thur.  6. — I  preached  in  a  large  open  space  near  the  house, 
to  many  of  the  rich  as  well  as  poor. 

Sat.  8.  —  I  called  on  a  lively  man,  who  is  just  married  in  the 
ninety-second  year  of  his  age.  He  served  as  an  officer  both  in 
King  William's  and  Queen  Anne's  wars,  and  a  year  or  two  ago 
began  to  serve  the  Prince  of  Peace.  He  has  all  his  faculties  of 
body  and  mind  entire,  works  in  his  garden  some  hours  every 
day,  and  praises  God  who  has  prolonged  his  life  to  so  good  a 
purpose.3 

Sun.  9. — At  eight  we  had  the  usual  congregation  in  the 
market-house,  and  the  usual  blessing.  Mr.  G[rueber]  preached 
an  excellent  sermon  at  church  on  the  necessity  of  the  religion  of 
the  heart.  At  five  I  preached  on  the  Connaught  side  of  the 
river  to  abundance  of  Romanists  as  well  as  Protestants,  all  of 
whom  seemed  convinced  that  they  ought  not  any  longer  to  '  halt 
between  two  opinions.' 

Here  I  learned,  from  her  husband,  that — 

Rose  Longworth  found  peace  with  God  in  June  1749.  This  she 
never  lost,  and  often  rejoiced  with  joy  unspeakable.  From  that  time 
she  was  always  remarkably  serious,  and  walked  closely  with  God. 

About  Easter  1751  she  found  a  great  decay  of  her  bodily  strength, 
but  of  this  she  never  complained,  being  only  concerned  lest  her  soul 
should  suffer  loss.  In  July  following  she  was  removed  into  the  country, 
but  still  continued  walking  in  the  light.  Toward  the  latter  end  of  the 
month,  apprehending  her  time  was  short,  she  desired  to  return  to 
Athlone.     On  Saturday  the   21st  she  returned,  extremely  weak,  but 


1  Dr.  John  Taylor  of  Norwich.  '  On  Aug.  8  he  wrote  to  his  brother 

2  At    Athlone    he    preached     eleven       Charles  ( Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  1 14) ;  he  re- 
sermons,  vises  his  belief  on  unconditional  election. 


Aug.  1752.1 


An  Irish   Tour  41 


continually  praising  God,  and  all  the  following  week  expressing  a  strong 
'desire  to  depart  and  be  with  Christ.' 

Mr.   1   administered  the  sacrament  to  her  on  Sunday.     She 

could  speak  little,  but  said  she  had  no  doubt  of  her  salvation.  He  was 
deeply  affected,  and  said  he  believed  her,  but  could  scarce  speak  for 
tears.  When  she  could  not  be  heard  she  had  her  eyes  constantly  fixed 
upward  and  her  lips  moving.  In  the  afternoon  she  fainted  away. 
Coming  to  herself  she  said,  '  Ah  !  I  was  disappointed  ;  I  thought  I 
had  escaped.'  She  then  prayed  for  her  husband,  for  her  parents,  for 
the  society,  the  Church,  and  the  whole  world.  Fainting  again,  and 
coming  to  herself,  she  cried  out,  '  See  my  Redeemer !  See  my 
Redeemer !  See  how  His  blood  streams  !  I  see  the  Lamb  in  glory. 
I  see  the  Lamb  in  glory.  Fare  ye  well.  God  be  with  you.  Fare  ye 
well.'     She  then  ceased  to  speak,  and  went  to  God. 

Mon.  10. — I  preached  at  Aughrim,  and  found  the  people 
much  alive  to  God. 

Tues.  11. — I  rode  over  to  Mr.  M 's.     How  gracious  has 

God  been  to  this  family !  Three  years  ago  his  youngest 
daughter,  after  she  had  received  a  clear  sense  of  the  love  of 
God,  was  brought  to  the  gates  of  death,  and  continues  still  just 
on  the  wing  for  eternity.  His  other  daughter  was  suddenly 
struck  last  year,  and,  after  having  witnessed  a  good  confession  to 
all  that  were  round  about  her,  went  to  God  in  the  full  triumph 

of  faith.      Some   months  since  Mr.  M 's  brother  began  to 

decline,  and  two  or  three  weeks  ago,  full  of  unutterable  peace 
and  joy,  went  to  Him  whom  his  soul  loved. 

Wed.  12. — In  the  evening  I  preached  at  Birr.  I  scarce  ever 
saw  so  large,  so  genteel,  and  so  serious  a  congregation  there 
before.     The  next  evening  I  reached  Limerick.2 

I  spent  Friday  and  Saturday  in  conference  with  our 
preachers,3  and  the  next  week  spake  with  each  of  the  members 
of  the  society,  many  of  whom,  I  now  found,  were  '  rooted  and 
grounded  in  love'  and  '  zealous  of  good  works.' 

1  Probably  Mr.  Grueber.  of    which    are    in   vol.   i.   of    the    Irish 

-'  Philip  Embury  heard  Wesley  at  this  Minutes.     Larwood,    Haughton,    Cown- 

visit  to   Limerick,   and  was  impressed,  ley,     Fisher,     Walsh,     Rowell,     Read, 

though   not  until    Dec.   25   did  he  find  Swindells,  and  Whitford  were  present, 

peace.     In  this  year  also  Barbara  Ruckle  See  Crookshank,  vol.  i.  pp.    91-3.     In 

(Mrs.  Heck)  joined  the  society  at  Bal-  another     account     the    name    of    John 

lingarrane.     (Crookshank,  Methodism  in  Fenwick    appears    instead    of    Thomas 

Ireland,  vol.  i.  p.  96.)  Walsh  (see  Meth.  Mag.,  Dublin  edition, 


The  first  Irish  Conference,   Minutes       1807,  p.  565). 


42  John   Wesley  s  Journal  tsept.1752. 

Fri.  21. — I  rode  through  heavy  rain  to  Shronell,  and  to  Cork 
the  next  day. 

Sun.  23. — At  eight  the  house  would  not  near  contain  the 
congregation,  yet  I  judged  a  small  congregation  with  peace 
preferable  to  a  large  one  with  noise  and  tumult. 

On  Monday  and  Tuesday  I  carefully  examined  the  society, 
put  away  those  who  did  not  walk  according  to  the  gospel,  and 
found  about  three  hundred  who  still  strive  to  have  '  a  conscience 
void  of  offence  toward  God  and  toward  man.' x 

Tues.  25. — I  preached  in  the  market-place  at  Kinsale.  The 
next  morning,  at  eight,  I  walked  to  the  Fort.  On  the  hill  above 
it  we  found  a  large,  deep  hollow,  capable  of  containing  two  or 
three  thousand  people.  On  one  side  of  this  the  soldiers  soon 
cut  a  place  with  their  swords  for  me  to  stand,  where  I  was 
screened  both  from  the  wind  and  sun,  while  the  congregation  sat 
on  the  grass  before  me.  Many  eminent  sinners  were  present, 
particularly  of  the  army,  and  I  believe  God  gave  them  a  loud 
call  to  repentance. 

In  the  evening  I  called  sinners  to  repentance  in  the  main 
street  at  Bandon.  On  Thursday  and  Friday  the  rain  drove  us 
into  the  market-house.  Indeed,  I  hardly  remember  two  dry 
days  together  since  I  landed  in  Ireland. 

Sat.  29. — I  returned  to  Cork  and  spent  a  comfortable  day, 
having  a  strong  hope  that  God  will  '  lift  up  the  hands  that  hang 
down.' 

Mon.  31. —  I  rode  to  Clonmel.  A  wide  door  was  opened  here 
a  year  ago,  but  one  evening,  just  after  sermon  was  ended,  the 
room  in  which  the  preaching  had  been,  fell.  Two  or  three 
persons  were  hurt  thereby,  for  which  reason  (could  one  desire  a 
better  ?)  the  people  of  the  town  vowed  that  no  Methodists  should 
ever  more  preach  in  Clonmel.2 

SEPT.  i,  Tues. — I  preached  at  Waterford.  Only  one  poor 
man  behaved  amiss  ;  his  case  is  really  to  be  pitied.     Some  time 


1  The  Sermon  Register  records  a  large  most    extraordinary     among    many    re- 
number of  sermons  preached  during, the  suits. 

fifteen  days  from  August  10.     It  was  the  -  The  Sermon  Register  shows  him  at 

seed-sowingltime  in  Cork,  Limerick,  and  Bandon   in    September    as    well    as    in 

also   in    many  other    Irish    towns    and  October,  but  does  not  fix  the  day. 
villages,  American  Methodism  being  the 


sept.  1762.]  Thomas   Walsh 


since  he  had  strong  desires  to  serve  God,  and  had  broke  off  his 

outward  sins,  when  Mr.  ,  one  of  the  prebendaries,  told  him 

he  did  very  wrong  to  go  after  those  fellows,  and  made  him 
promise  to  hear  them  no  more.  He  kept  his  word,  and  turned 
back  as  a  dog  to  his  vomit,  wallowing  in  sin  as  he  did  before. 
But  he  does  not  go  to  the  Methodists,  so  all  is  well  ;  he  may  go 
to  the  devil  and  welcome. 

Wed.  2. — At  eleven  Mr.  [Thomas]  Walsh  began  preaching  in 
Irish  in  the  market-house.  It  being  market-day,  the  people 
flocked  from  all  sides.  Many  of  them  seriously  attended.  A 
few  of  the  rabble  cursed  and  swore,  but  did  not  make  a  con- 
siderable interruption.1 

At  five  I  went  to  the  court-house  and  began  preaching,  but 
the  mob  was  so  numerous  and  noisy  that  few  could  hear.  Per- 
ceiving the  noise  increase  more  and  more,  I  walked  through  the 
midst  of  the  mob  to  my  lodgings.  They  hallooed,  and  shouted, 
and  cursed  amain  ;  hitherto  could  they  come,  but  no  further. 

Thur.  14. — (So  we  must  call  it  now,  seeing  the  New  Style 
now  takes  place.)  I  rode  to  the  bog  of  Boira,2  where  a  great 
and  effectual  door  is  opened.  On  Friday  evening  we  rode  on  to 
Gorey,  and  the  next  day  to  Dublin. 

Sun.  17.  —  I  made  an  end  of  Mr.  V[illette]'s  Essay  on  tJie 
Happiness  of  the  Life  to  come?  I  am  glad  it  is  wrote  in  French  ; 
probably  not  many  in  Ireland  will  be  at  the  pains  of  reading  it. 
He  is  a  lively,  sensible  writer,  but  I  cannot  believe  his  hypothesis 
while  I  believe  the  Bible. 

Mon.  18. — We  had  our  first  watch-night  in  the  new  house, 
and  it  was  a  night  that  will  not  soon  be  forgotten.  On  Tuesday 
I  rode  to  Portarlington,  and  the  next  day  to  Birr,  through  so 
violent  a  storm  that  my  strength  was  utterly  exhausted,  and 
how  I  should  preach  I  knew  not.  But  God  soon  renewed  my 
strength,  and  on    Thursday  the  21st  I  arose  lively  and  well,  and 


1  This  was  the  last   day  of  the  Old  parenthesis.       He   rides   to   the   bog   of 

Style  Calendar.  Eleven  days  are  dropped  Boira,   enters   'an   effectual    door,'   and 

between  Wednesday,  the  2nd  of  Septem-  preaches   on    the    Royal    Law  and   the 

ber,  1752,  and  Thursday,  the  14th.  One  of  works  that  make  faith  perfect, 

the  wonders  of  the  day  is  the  fact  that  in  ■  Parish  of  Kiltrisk. 

his  Journal  John  Wesley— not  the  least  3  Essai  sur  la  felicity  de  la  vie  &  venir, 

observant  man  either  in  England  or  Ire-  en  dialogues.     Dublin,   1748,  afterwards 

land— lets   the   day   pass   with   a    mere  translated  into  English  (1793). 


44  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [Oct.  vm. 

in  the  afternoon,  through  continued  rain,  came,  very  wet,  but  not 
tired,  to  Limerick.1 

Sat.  23. — We  reached  Cork. 

Sun.  24. — In  the  evening  I  proposed  to  the  society  the  build- 
ing a  preaching-house.2  The  next  day  ten  persons  subscribed 
an  hundred  pounds  ;  another  hundred  was  subscribed  in  three 
or  four  days,  and  a  piece  of  ground  taken.  I  saw  a  double 
providence  now  in  our  not  sailing  last  week.  If  we  had,  pro- 
bably this  house  had  never  been  built,  and  it  is  most  likely  we 
should  have  been  cast  away.  Above  thirty  ships,  we  were 
informed,  have  been  lost  on  these  coasts  in  the  late  storm.3 

Oct.  i,  Sun. — We  had  in  the  morning  at  St.  Paul's  a  strong, 
close,  practical  sermon  ;  and  another  at  our  own  church  in  the 
afternoon,  delivered  in  an  earnest,  affectionate  manner.  We 
had  a  solemn  season  likewise  at  the  room,  so  that  this  day  was 
a  day  of  joy  and  thanksgiving. 

The  wind  being  contrary  still,  on  Monday  the  2nd  I  rode 
once  more  to  Bandon.  But  though  I  came  unexpected,  the 
house  was  too  small  to  contain  one  half  of  the  congregation,  so  I 
preached  in  the  street,  both  this  evening  and  at  five  on  Tuesday 
morning,  the  moon  giving  us  as  much  light  as  we  wanted  till  the 
sun  supplied  her  place.  I  then  returned  to  Cork.  On  Friday 
the  6th,  the  ship  being  under  sail,  we  took  boat  and  came  to 
Cove  4  in  the  evening.  All  the  inns  being  full,  we  lodged  at  a 
private  house  ;  but  we  found  one  inconvenience  herein  :  we  had 
nothing  to  eat,  for  our  provisions  were  on  board,  and  there  was 
nothing  to  be  bought  in  the  town — neither  flesh,  nor  fish,  nor 
butter,  nor  cheese.  At  length  we  procured  some  eggs  and  bread, 
and  were  well  contented. 

Sun.  8. — We  were  called  early  by  the  pilot,  and  told  we 
must  rise  and  go  on  board.  We  did  so,  and  found  a  large 
number  of  passengers  ;  but  the  wind  turning,  most  of  them 
went  on  shore.     At  eleven   I  preached   to   those  that  were  left. 


1  The  Sermon  Register  has  no  record  starts   a   new   preaching-house    scheme, 

of  preaching  at  Limerick  in  September.  buys  a  site,  raises  ,£200,  and  visits  all  his 

He  was  worn  down  with  incessant  work,  people. 

and   with  travel  in  wind  and  rain  and  2  On  Hammond's  Marsh,  Cork, 

fog.     Nevertheless,  he  boldly  faces  eight  3  On    the    26th,    28th,    and    29th    he 

days  of  work  in  the  chief  centre  of  brutal  preached  in  Cork, 

persecution,  preaches  eighteen  sermons,  *  Now  Queenstown. 


Oct.  1752. 


From  Cork  to  Bristol  45 


About  six  it  blew  a  storm,  but  we  were  anchored  in  a  safe 
harbour,  so  it  neither  hurt  nor  disturbed  us. 

Mon.  9. — Finding  there  was  no  probability  of  sailing  soon, 
we  went  up  to  Mr.  P[arson]'s,  near  Passage.  I  preached  there 
in  the  street,  about  four,  to  most  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town. 
They  behaved  very  quietly,  but  very  few  seemed  either  con- 
vinced or  affected.1 

Tucs.  10. — We  had  another  violent  storm.  It  made  Mr. 
P[arson]'s  house  rock  to  and  fro,  though  it  was  a  new,  strong 
house,  and  covered  on  all  sides  with  hills  as  well  as  with 
trees.  We  afterwards  heard  that  several  ships  were  lost  on 
the  coast.  Only  one  got  into  the  harbour,  but  grievously 
shattered,  her  rigging  torn  in  pieces,  and  her  mainmast  gone 
by  the  board. 

Wed.  11. —  I  rode  to  Cork  once  more,  and  was  very  fully 
employed  all  the  day.  The  next  morning  we  returned  to  Cove, 
and  about  noon  got  out  of  the  harbour.  We  immediately  found 
the  effects  of  the  late  storm,  the  sea  still  boiling  like  a  pot.  The 
moon  set  about  eight,  but  the  Northern  Lights  abundantly 
supplied  her  place.  Soon  after  God  smoothed  the  face  of  the 
deep,  and  gave  us  a  small,  fair  wind. 

Fri.  13. — I  read  over  Pascal's  Thoughts?  What  could  pos- 
sibly induce  such  a  creature  as  Voltaire  to  give  such  an  author 
as  this  a  good  word,  unless  it  was  that  he  once  wrote  a  satire? 
And  so  his  being  a  satirist  might  atone  even  for  his  being  a 
Christian. 

Sat.  14. — About  seven  we  sailed  into  Kingroad,  and  happily 
concluded  our  little  voyage.  I  now  rested  a  week  at  Bristol  and 
Kingswood,  preaching  only  morning  and  evening.3 

Sun.  22. — Having  heard  grievous  complaints  of  the  society 
in  Kingswood,  as  if  there  were  many  disorderly  walkers  therein, 


1  He  also  preached  at  '  Balligarne.'  *  Many  authorities  (e.g.  Myles,  Smith, 
Barbara  Ruckle's  home  was  at  Ballin-  and  Crowther)  report  a  Conference  in 
garrane,  among  the  Palatines  ;  it  was  Bristol  on  October  16,  at  which  it  was 
also  Philip  Embury's  birthplace.  agreed  that  each  preacher  should  receive 

2  Pensces  sur la  religion  el  sur  quelqttes  £\2  per  annum,  'in  order  to  provide 
attires  sujets.  First  appeared  in  1669.  himself  with  necessaries.'  Myles's 
Voltaire  said  that  '  the  best  comedies  of  Chronological  I/istory,  p.  76  ;  Smith's 
Moliere  have  not  more  wit  than  the  first  History  of  Methodism,  vol.  i.  p.  258  ; 
Provincial  Letters.'  See  W.H.S.  vol.  iv.  Crowther's  Portraiture  of  Methodism, 
pp.  79,  80 ;  vol.  vii.  p.  86.  p.  57. 


45  John    Wesley 's  Journal  [Oct.  1752. 

^made^  particular  inquiry,  and  I  found  there  was  one  member 
who  drank  too  much  in  January  or  February  last.  But  I  could 
not  find  one  who  at  this  time  lived  in  any  outward  sin  whatever. 
When  shall  we  be  aware  of  the  accuser  of  the  brethren  ?  How 
long  shall  we  be  ignorant  of  his  devices,  and  suffer  him,  by  these 
loose,  indeterminate  accusations,  to  make  our  minds  evil-affected 

toward  each  other  ? 

Wed  25  —I  rode  to  Wick,  and  rejoiced  over  a  people  who 
have  run  well  from  the  beginning.  The  person  at  whose  house 
I  preached  was  supposed  to  be  at  the  point  of  death.  But  ease 
or  pain,  life  or  death,  was  welcome  to  her.  She  desired,  indeed 
<  to  depart  and  to  be  with  Christ';  but  it  was  with  perfect 
resignation,  her  will  being  swallowed  up  in  the  will  of  H.m 
whom  her  soul  loved. 

Tliur  26— The  remains  of  Elizabeth  Man  being  brought  to 
the  Room,  I  preached  on  '  Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  the 
Lord  *     How  plain  an   instance  is  here  of   grace   so   changing 
the  heart  as   to    leave    no    trace    of   the    natural    temper !      I 
remember   her  fretful,    peevish,    murmuring,  discontented  with 
everything.      But  for  more    than  a  year    before  she  died  God 
laid  the  axe  to  the  root  of  the  tree;  all  her  peevishness  and 
fretfulness  were  gone  ;  she  was  always  content,  always  thankful. 
She  was  not  only  constant  in  prayer  and  in  all  the  ordinances 
of  God,  but  abundant  in  praise  and  thanksgiving.     Often  her 
soul  was  so  filled  with    love    and    praise    that    her    body  was 
quite  overpowered.     On  Sunday  morning  she  said,  'I  am  struck 
with   death.'     Her   pains   were   violent   all   the   day,  but   they 
interrupted  not  her  prayer  and  praise  and  exhortation  to  those 
about  her;  till,  about  three  in  the  morning,  having  finished  her 
work,  she  was  set  at  liberty. 

Sunday  the  29th  was  a  useful  day  to  my  soul.  I  found 
more  than  once  trouble  and  heaviness,  but  I  called  upon  the 
name  of  the  Lord,  and  He  gave  me  a  clear,  full  appro- 
bation of  His  way,  and  a  calm,  thankful  acquiescence  in  His 

'   I  cannot  but  stand  amazed  at  the  goodness  of  God.     Others 
are  most  assaulted  on  the  weak  side  of  their  soul,  but  with  me 

T^T^^sume  that  the  sorrows  of  his  married  life  are  becoming  acute. 


Nov.  1752.1 


The  Sermon  Register 


47 


it  is  quite  otherwise.  If  I  have  any  strength  at  all  (and  I  have 
none  but  what  I  have  received},  it  is  in  forgiving  injuries.  And 
on  this  very  side  am  I  assaulted  more  frequently  than  on  any 
other.  Yet  leave  me  not  here  one  hour  to  myself,  or  I  shall 
betray  myself  and  Thee  ! 

Mon.  30. — I  rode  to  Salisbury,  and  in  the  two  following  days 
examined  severally  the  members  of  the  society  ;  and  on  Thursday 
left  them  determined  to  stand  in  the  good  old  way,  in  all  the 
ordinances  and  commandments  of  God. 

In  the  evening  I  endeavoured  to  reunite  the  little  scattered 
flock  at  Winterbourne.1 

.  Nov.    3,   Fri. — I    rode    to    Reading,   and    on    Saturday   to 
London.2 

Mon.  6.3 — A  remarkable  note  was  given  me  in  the  evening. 
It  ran  in  these  words  : 


'  He  also  preached  here.  In  October 
he  preached  again  at  Sarum.  Wilton 
is  also  named.  From  the  Sermon 
Register  we  find  that  during  November  he 
spent  at  least  three  days  in  Canterbury. 

2  On  the  day  of  his  arrival  in  London 
(but  where  we  do  not  know)  he  preached 
three  times.  The  entries  (in  the  Sermon 
Register)  that  follow  are  almost  in- 
credible : 

TSunday]  Nov.  5-— 1  Tim.  vi.  17  ;  Mai.  iii.  2  ; 
La.  ix.  55;  2  Thess.  i.  ult. ;  John  iv.  14. 
Foundery :  Col.  iii.  and  iv. ;  Lu.  ix.  55; 
1  Pet.  iv.  12 ;  1  Pet.  i.  13.  West  Street 
Chapel:  Col.  iii.  it;  iii.  16;  iii.  18;  Rom. 
xiii.  11.  Spitalfields  :  Col.  iii.  15  ;  Heb.  ii.  3  ; 
Acts  iv.  12;  xvii.  23.  Westminster:  Heb. 
x.  36. 

We  are  not  to  assume  that  these  places 
were  visited  in  this  order.  A  com- 
parison of  Journal  and  Register  shows 
that  the  all-important  details  in  this 
particular  record  were  the  visits  on  speci- 
fied days,  and  the  texts  from  which 
sermons  or  expositions  were  given.  The 
Register  was  kept  solely  to  enable 
Wesley  to  avoid  repetition.  What  hap- 
pened, probably,  was  the  following  :  (1) 
Devotional  exercises  with  the  Foundery 
family  and  classes,  or  bands,  together 
with  one  or  more  sermons.  For  Wesley 
the  day  began  at   4  a.m.     (2)  Visits  to 


all  the  Foundery  classes,  and  one  or  two 
preaching  services.  (3)  A  similar  visit 
and  exercises,  but  much  shorter,  at 
Spitalfields.  (4)  At  West  Street,  which 
is  always  '  the  Chapel,'  the  visit  would 
be  much  longer.  It  is  open  to  question 
whether  in  this  London  Sunday  itinerary 
West  Street,  with  Holy  Communion, 
should  not  be  placed  second.  If  so, 
Westminster  would  have  its  rapid  visit 
immediately  after.  Tradition  says  that 
either  now  or  later  the  preaching-room 
at  Westminster  was  on,  or  near,  the  site 
of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Central 
Hall  opposite  Westminster  Abbey, 
dedicated  Oct.  3,   1912. 

3  Deptford  must  be  fitted  into  this 
busy,  but  scantily  reported  period  ;  also 
the  following,  each  with  its  equipment  of 
sermons  and  expositions :  Shoreham. 
On  Nov.  19,  Snowsfields  and  Foundery. 
Christmas  Day,  Foundery,  West  Street, 
and  Spitalfields.  Dec.  26,  London  (pro- 
bably Foundery),  and  Snowsfields.  In  Dec. 
he  preached  at  Fernhall,  also  at  Mill  Hill. 
It  may  be  thought  that  wherever,  in  the 
Sermon  Register,  an  almost  impossible 
number  of  sermons  and  expositions  are 
concentrated  on  one  day,  as,  for  instance, 
on  Nov.  5,  1752  (see  above),  the  date 
named,  being  a  Sunday,  is  intended,  as  on 


48  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Jan.  1753. 

James  Thompson,  sailor  on  board  the  George  and  Mary,  a  Sunder- 
land collier,  bound  for  Middelburgh,  in  September  last,  met  with  a  gale 
of  wind,  which  wrecked  her  on  the  Baynard  Sands,  off  the  coast  of 
Zeeland.  Here  every  soul  perished  save  himself,  who  was  for  three 
days  and  three  nights  floating  on  a  piece  of  the  wreck,  with  another 
man  dead  by  his  side,  in  which  time  the  poor  sufferer  had  lost  his 
senses.  At  length  he  was  taken  up  by  the  Dolphin  packet,  and 
escaped  safe  to  land.  He  is  now  willing  to  return  hearty  thanks  to 
God,  and  to  proclaim  his  deliverance  to  the  world,  that  all  who  hear  it 
may  '  praise  the  Lord  for  His  goodness,  and  declare  the  wonders  that 
He  doeth  for  the  children  of  men.' 

In  the  remaining  part  of  this,  and  in  the  following  month, 
I  prepared  the  rest  of  the  books  for  Tlie  Christian  Library,  a 
work  by  which  I  have  lost  above  two  hundred  pounds.  Perhaps 
the  next  generation  may  know  the  value  of  it. 

1753.  Jan.  i,  Mon. — A  large  congregation  met  at  four,  and 
praised  Him  with  joyful  hearts  and  lips  who  had  given  us  to  see 
another  year.1 

Tues.  2. — I  breakfasted  at  Ephraim  Bedder's.  How  strangely 
diversified  is  the  scene  of  his  life  !  How  often  had  he  been,  both 
outwardly  and  inwardly,  in  the  deep !  But  at  length  God  has 
lifted  up  his  head. 

Thur.  4. — I  visited  one  on  the  borders  of  eternity,  who  did 
not  know  his  interest  in  Christ.  Oh  how  melancholy  is  it  to 
leave  all  below,  unless  we  have  an  earnest  of  a  better  inherit- 
ance !  How  can  any  reasonable  man  bear  the  thoughts  of  death 
till  he  has  a  prospect  beyond  the  grave  ? 2 

Sun.  7. —  I   breakfasted  with  M Y ,  an  uncommon 


a  modern  English  Methodist  Plan,  to  in-  compared  with  many  modern  engage- 
elude  all  the  days  of  that  week.  It  may  ment  lists,  excessive — Foundcry,  Spital- 
be  so.  But  this  explanation,  though  fields,  Westminster.  But  when  it  is 
providing  relief  from  a  difficulty,  does  discovered  that  Wesley,  beginning  at  four 
not  fit  in  with  all  the  facts.  Such  an  o'clock  in  the  morning,  gave  nineteen 
explanation  does  not,  for  instance,  help  sermons  or  expositions,  we  wonder.  On 
us  with  Christmas  Day  of  this  year  1752,  January  8th,  or  more  probably  (cf. 
also  a  crowded  day — a  day  standing  by  Journal)  28th,  he  was  at  West  Street  with 
itself,  and  followed  by  a  day  (Dec.  26)  the  more  moderate  provision  of  ten  texts, 
fairly  occupied.  z  On  Jan.  6  he  wrote  a  Preface  to 
1  The  number  of  appointments  for  Whateley's  Directions  for  Married  Ptr- 
New  Year's  Day,   1753,   is  not,  even  as  sons  {Works,  vol.  xiw  p.  231). 


WESLEY'S    ELECTRICAL    MACHINE    (see    PAGE     I90). 
>»•  111  the  Mission  House  Museum.     Formerly  at  Woodhouse  Grove  School,  where  it  was  used  to  illustrate 
lectures  on  natural  science,  and  to  amuse  the  boys. 


49 


Jan.  1753]  Ministry  in  London  51 

monument  of  mercy.  For  a  long  time  he  was  '  turned  back  as 
a  dog  to  his  vomit,'  and  wallowed  in  all  manner  of  wickedness. 
Yet  his  wife  could  never  give  him  up,  nor  could  he  ever 
escape  from  the  hell  within,  till  she  said  to  him  one  day,  '  Go 
upstairs  and  ask  of  God,  and  you  know  not  but  He  may  yet 
bless  you.'  He  went,  but  with  a  dull,  heavy  heart,  and  stayed 
about  two  hours.  When  he  came  down  she  stared  upon  him, 
and  said, '  What  is  the  matter  now?  What  is  come  to  you? 
You  do  not  look  as  you  did.'  He  answered,  '  No,  for  I  have 
found  the  Lord.'  And  from  that  hour  he  has  endeavoured  to 
walk  worthy  of  God,  who  has  again  called  him  '  to  His  kingdom 
and  glory.' ' 

[Tues.  9. — I  talked  largely  with  Mr.   ,  and  pressed  him 

much  to  come  and  see  me.  He  spoke  as  if  he  would.  But 
Mrs. told  me  frankly  '  he  never  designed  it.'  This  separa- 
tion likewise  of  chief  friends  I  ascribe  entirely  to  the  good  orifices 
of  Mr.  M n.2] 

Mon.  15. — We  had  our  first  watch-night  at  Snowsfields. 
Scarce  any  went  away  till  between  twelve  and  one.  How  is  it 
that  never  any  one,  in  England  or  Ireland,  has  been  hurt  for  all 
these  years  in  going  to  all  parts  at  the  dead  of  night  ?  Are  not 
the  hairs  of  our  head  all  numbered  ? 

Sat.  20. — I  advised  one  who  had  been  troubled  many  years 
with  a  stubborn  paralytic  disorder  to  try  a  new  remedy. 
Accordingly  she  was  electrified,  and  found  immediate  help. 
By  the  same  means  I  have  known  two  persons  cured  of  an 
inveterate  pain  in  the  stomach,  and  another  of  a  pain  in  his 
side,  which  he  had  had  ever  since  he  was  a  child.  Never- 
theless, who  can  wonder  that  many  gentlemen  of  the  faculty,  as 
well  as  their  good  friends  the  apothecaries,  decry  a  medicine  so 
shockingly  cheap  and  easy,  as  much  as  they  do  quicksilver  and 
tar-water  ? 

Sun.  28. — A  solemn  awe  spread  over  the  whole  congregation 
while  I  was  explaining  at  West  Street  the  parable  of  the  Ten 
Virgins,  more  especially  those  who  knew  they  had  not  '  oil  in 
their  lamps.' 3 


1  On  the  9th  of  this  month  he  was  at  3  Tues.  Jan.  30,  West  Street,  Snows- 

Shoreham.  fields.      Sat.    Feb.    3,    Snowsfields    and 

■  Probably  Meriton.  West  Street. 


5  2  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Feb.  1763. 

Feb.  3,  Sat. — I  visited  one  in  the  Marshalsca  Prison — a 
nursery  of  all  manner  of  wickedness.  Oh  shame  to  man  that 
there  should  be  such  a  place,  such  a  picture  of  hell  upon  earth  ! 
And  shame  to  those  who  bear  the  name  of  Christ  that  there 
should  need  any  prison  at  all  in  Christendom  ! 1 

Thur.  8. — A  proposal  was  made  for  devolving  all  temporal 
business,  books  and  all,  entirely  on  the  stewards,2  so  that  I  might 
have  no  care  upon  me  (in  London  at  least)  but  that  of  the  souls 
committed  to  my  charge.  Oh  when  shall  it  once  be !  From 
this  day  ?     In  me  mora  non  erit  ulla. 

In  the  afternoon  I  visited  many  of  the  sick  ;  but  such  scenes, 
who  could  see  unmoved  ?  There  are  none  such  to  be  found 
in  a  pagan  country.  If  any  of  the  Indians  in  Georgia  were  sick 
(which,  indeed,  exceeding  rarely  happened  till  they  learned 
gluttony  and  drunkenness  from  the  Christians),  those  that  were 
near  him  gave  him  whatever  he  wanted.3  Oh  who  will  convert 
the  English  into  honest  heathens  ! 

On  Friday  and  Saturday  I  visited  as  many  more  as  I  could. 
I  found  some  in  their  cells  under  ground,  others  in  their  garrets, 
half  starved  both  with  cold  and  hunger,  added  to  weakness  and 
pain.  But  I  found  not  one  of  them  unemployed  who  was  able 
to  crawl  about  the  room.  So  wickedly,  devilishly  false  is  that 
common  objection,  '  They  are  poor  only  because  they  are  idle.' 
If  you  saw  these  things  with  your  own  eyes,  could  you  lay  out 
money  in  ornaments  or  superfluities? 

Sun.  II.— I  preached  at  Hayes.  Here  we  have  a  fair  in- 
stance of  overcoming  evil  with  good.  All  but  the  gentry  of  the 
parish  patiently  hear  the  truth.  Many  approve  of,  and  some 
experience  it. 

Thur.  15.4 — I  visited  Mr.  S ,  slowly  recovering  from  a 


1  On  Tuesday,  Feb.  6,  he  preached  at  appointment  about  this  time  of  T.  Butts 

Deptford.  and  W.  Briggs  as  '  book  stewards  '  was 

-  For   an   account    of    the    stewards,  part  of  the  general  plan  of  devolution, 

their   appointment,   business,  rules,   the  It  seems  probable  that  these  two  honest 

manner  of  their  work,  see   Works,  vol.  and  capable  business  men  conceived  the 

viii.  pp.  261,  262.     The  Latin  quotation  plan  which  Wesley  cheerfully  adopted. 
'  In  me   shall    no  delay  occur '  is  taken  s  But  see  his  description  of  the  Chic- 

from    Virgil,   Eel.    iii.    52  :     Quin  age,  saws  and  Creeks,  Dec.  2,    1737,  above, 

si  quid  habes :  in  me  mora  non  erit  ulla.  vol.   i.  pp.  407,  409. 
(IV.H.S.  vol.  v.  p.  29.)     Cf.  Tyerman's  '  At  the  Foundery  he   preached   and 

account,    Life,   vol.    ii.    p.     176.      The  expounded  five  times. 


Feb.  1763.]  Benjamin  Franklin  53 

severe  illness.  He  expressed  much  love,  and  did  not  doubt, 
he  said,  inasmuch  as  I  meant  well,  but  that  God  would  con- 
vince me  of  my  great  sin  in  writing  books  ;  seeing  men  ought 
to  read  no  book  but  the  Bible.  I  judged  it  quite  needless 
to  enter  into  a  dispute  with  a  sea-captain,  seventy-five !  years 
old. 

This  day  Mr.  Steward  ■  was  released.  For  two  or  three 
years  he  had  been  '  instant  in  season,  out  of  season,  doing  the 
work  of  an  evangelist,  and  making  full  proof  of  his  ministry.' 
Three  or  four  weeks  ago  he  fell  ill  of  a  fever,  and  was  for  a  while 
in  heaviness  of  soul.  Last  week  all  his  doubts  and  fears 
vanished  ;  and,  as  he  grew  weaker  in  body,  he  grew  stronger  in 
faith.  This  morning  he  expressed  a  hope  full  of  immortality, 
and  in  the  afternoon  went  to  God. 

Sat.  17. — From  Dr.  Franklin's  Letters'1'  I  learned  (1)  that 
electrical  fire  (or  ether)  is  a  species  of  fire,  infinitely  finer  than 
any  other  yet  known  ;  (2)  that  it  is  diffused,  and  in  nearly 
equal  proportions,  through  almost  all  substances ;  (3)  that,  as 
long  as  it  is  thus  diffused,  it  has  no  discernible  effect ;  (4)  that 
if  any  quantity  of  it  be  collected  together,  whether  by  art  or 
nature,  it  then  becomes  visible  in  the  form  of  fire,  and  inex- 
pressibly powerful  ;  (5)  that  it  is  essentially  different  from  the 
light  of  the  sun,  for  it  pervades  a  thousand  bodies  which  light 
cannot  penetrate,  and  yet  cannot  penetrate  glass,  which  light 
pervades  so  freely  ;  (6)  that  lightning  is  no  other  than  electrical 
fire,  collected  by  one  or  more  clouds  ;  (7)  that  all  the  effects  of 
lightning  may  be  performed  by  the  artificial  electric  fire  ;  (8)  that 
anything  pointed,  as  a  spire  or  tree,  attracts  the  lightning,  just 
as  a  needle  does  the  electrical  fire  ;  (9)  that  the  electrical  fire, 
discharged  on  a  rat  or  a  fowl,  will  kill  it  instantly,  but  dis- 
charged on  one  dipped  in  water,  will  slide  off,  and  do  it  no  hurt 
at  all.  In  like  manner  the  lightning  which  will  kill  a  man  in 
a  moment  will  not  hurt  him  if  he  be  thoroughly  wet.     What 


1  '  Twenty-five  '  in  1st  ed.  man's  Life  of  Whitefield,  vol.  ii.  p.  298. 

*  See  Life  of  C.  of  Huntingdon,  vol.  i.  3  Benjamin    Franklin.       Experiments 

pp.  193,  194.    The  Mr.  Steward  of  this  and   Observations    on    Electricity,     first 

paragraph  must  not  be  confounded  with  published    in    Gentleman 's    Mag.      See 

the  '  Mr.  S 'above.    See  also  letter  of  W.H.S.     vol.     iv.    p.     80;    Tyerman, 

Whitefield  to   Charles  Wesley,  in  Tyer-  vol.  ii.  pp.  161,  162  ;  also  below,  p.  190. 


54  John   Wesley  s  Journal  f March  1763. 

an  amazing  scene  is  here  opened  for  after-ages  to  improve 
upon ! ' 

Wed.  21. — I  visited  more  of  the  poor  sick.  The  industry 
of  many  of  them  surprised  me.  Several  who  were  ill  able 
to  walk  were  nevertheless  at  work,  some  without  any  fire 
(bitterly  cold  as  it  was),  and  some,  I  doubt,  without  any 
food  ;  yet  not  without  that  '  meat  which  endureth  to  everlasting 
life.' 

Mon.  26. — I  set  out  in  the  machine  2  for  Bristol  ;  and  on 
Tuesday  evening  preached  at  Bath. 

Wed.  28. — We  rode  to  Bristol.  I  now  looked  over  Mr. 
Prince's  Christian  History?  What  an  amazing  difference  is 
there  in  the  manner  wherein  God  has  carried  on  His  work  in 
England  and  in  America !  There,  above  a  hundred  of  the 
established  clergy,  men  of  age  and  experience,  and  of  the 
greatest  note  for  sense  and  learning  in  those  parts,  are  zealously 
engaged  in  the  work.  Here  almost  the  whole  body  of  the 
aged,  experienced,  learned  clergy  are  zealously  engaged  against 
it  ;  and  few,  but  a  handful  of  raw  young  men,  engaged  in  it, 
without  name,  learning,  or  eminent  sense.  And  yet  by  that 
large  number  of  honourable  men  the  work  seldom  flourished 
above  six  months  at  a  time,  and  then  followed  a  lamentable 
and  general  decay  before  the  next  revival  of  it  ;  whereas  that 
which  God  hath  wrought  by  these  despised  instruments  has 
continually  increased  for  fifteen  years  together ;  and  at  whatever 
time  it  has  declined  in  any  one  place,  has  more  eminently 
flourished  in  others.4 

March  5,  Mon. — I  called  on  Mr.  Farley,0  and  saw  a  plain 
confutation    of  that   vulgar   error   that   consumptions   are    not 


1  Sunday,  Feb.  1 8,  he  spent  at  Spital-  3  Thomas  Prince,  the  younger  (1722- 

fields,  and  Saturday  24th  at  Snowsfields.  48),  edited  the  earliest  American  periodi- 

On    Thursday   the    22nd   he    wrote    to  cal,   The   Christian  History  :  containing 

J.  Maskew,  who  had  remained  longer  in  accounts  of  the  revival  of  religion  in  Great 

Newcastle  than  the  terms  of  his  appoint-  Britain  and  America  in  1743.     Boston, 

ment    justified.       But     Wesley's     letter  1744-5.  2  vols,  published.      See  W.H.S. 

must  have  cheered  the  good  man  :  '  You  vol.  iv.  p.  80. 

are   still   wanted    there  ;    but    you    are  *  On  Thursday,  March  1,  he  preached 

wanted  more  elsewhere  '  (  Works,  vol.  xii.  at  Bristol,  and  on  the  3rd  at  Kingswood. 

p.  254).  5  His  death    is    announced   in   Felix 

"  i.e.  stage-coach.   See  W.H.S.  vol  vii  Farley's  Journal,  April  28,  1753.     See 

,,.  51.  Latimer's  Bristol,  p.  292. 


March  1753.]  A  Northern  Journey  55 

catching.  He  caught  the  consumption  from  his  son,  whereby  he 
soon  followed  him  to  the  grave. 

Wed.  14. — I  preached  at  Frome,1  a  dry,  barren,  uncomfort- 
able place.  The  congregation  at  Shaftesbury  in  the  evening 
were  of  a  more  excellent  spirit. 

Thur.  15. — I  met  the  stewards  of  the  neighbouring  societies 
at  Bearfield,  and  was  much  refreshed  among  them. 

Fri.  16.  — I  returned  to  Bristol,  and  on  Monday  the  19th  set 
out  with  my  wife  for  the  north.  I  preached  in  the  evening  at 
Wallbridge,  near  Stroud.  The  house  being  too  small,  many 
stood  without  ;  but  neither  before  nor  after  preaching  (much 
less  while  I  was  speaking),  did  I  hear  the  sound  of  any  voice  ; 
no,  nor  of  any  foot ;  in  so  deep  a  silence  did  they  both  come, 
hear,  and  go  away. 

Tues.  20. — I  preached  in  the  town  hall  at  Evesham.  At 
the  upper  end  of  the  room  a  large  body  of  people  were  still  and 
attentive.  Meantime,  at  the  lower  end,  many  were  walking  to 
and  fro,  laughing  and  talking,  as  if  they  had  been  in  West- 
minster Abbey. 

Wed.  21. — After  dinner  abundance  of  rabble  gathered  near 
the  town  hall,  having  procured  an  engine,  which  they  exercised 
on  all  that  came  in  their  way.  So  I  gave  them  the  ground  and 
preached  at  our  own  room  in  great  quietness. 

Thur.  22. —  I  rode  to  Birmingham.  A  few  poor  wretches,  I 
found,  had  occasioned  fresh  disturbance  here.  The  chief  was 
Sarah  B ,  with  whom  I  talked  at  large. 

Sat.  24. — She  said,  '  I  am  in  heaven  in  the  spirit ;  but  I  can 
speak  in  the  flesh.  I  am  not  that  which  appears,  but  that 
which  disappears.  I  always  pray,  and  yet  I  never  pray  :  for 
what  can  I  pray  for  ?  I  have  all.'  I  asked,  '  Do  not  you  pray 
for  sinners?'  She  said,  '  No  ;  I  know  no  sinners  but  one.  I 
know  but  two  in  the  world :  God  is  one,  and  the  devil  is  the 
other.'  I  asked,  '  Did  not  Adam  sin  of  old  ;  and  do  not 
adulterers  and  murderers  sin  now?'  She  replied,  'No;  Adam 
never  sinned  ;  and  no  man  sins  now :  it  is  only  the  devil.'  '  And 
will  no  man  ever  be  damned  ?  '  '  No  man  ever  will.'  '  Nor  the 
devil  ?'  'I  am  not  sure  ;  but  I  believe  not.'  '  Do  you  receive 
the  sacrament  ?  '     '  No  ;  I  do  not  want  it.'     '  Is  the  word  of  God 


'  For  early  Methodism  in  Frome  see  Meth.  Rec,  Nov.  30,  1899. 
VOL.   IV 


56  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [March  1753. 

your  rule  ? '  '  Yes,  the  Word  made  flesh  ;  but  not  the  letter. 
I  am  in  the  spirit.' 

Sun.  25. — Upon  inquiry,  I  found  these  wild  enthusiasts  were 
six  in  all — four  men  and  two  women.  They  had  first  run 
into  the  height  of  Antinomianism,  and  then  were  given  up  to 
the  spirit  of  pride  and  blasphemy. 

We  reached  Bilbrook  in  the  evening,  and  a  little  before  six, 
on  Monday  the  26th,  Poole,  near  Nantwich.  I  was  pretty  much 
tired,  but  soon  recovered  my  strength,  and  explained  to  a  serious 
people,  '  I  determined  not  to  know  anything  but  Jesus  Christ 
and  Him  crucified.' 

Tues.  27. — We  rode  to  Chester,  where  we  found  the  scene 
quite  changed  since  I  was  here  before.  There  is  now  no  talk 
of  pulling  down  houses.  The  present  mayor,1  being  a  man  of 
courage  as  well  as  honesty,  will  suffer  no  riot  of  any  kind  ;  so 
that  there  is  peace  through  all  the  city. 

Wed.  28. — The  house  was  full  of  serious  hearers  at  five.  In 
the  evening  some  gay  young  men  made  a  little  disturbance, 
and  a  large  mob  was  gathered  about  the  door ;  but  in  a  short 
time  they  dispersed  of  themselves.  However,  we  thought  it 
best  to  acquaint  the  mayor  with  what  had  passed  ;  on  which  he 
ordered  the  city  crier  to  go  down  the  next  evening,  and  pro- 
claim that  all  riots  should  be  severely  punished  ;  and  promised, 
if  need  were,  to  come  down  himself  and  read  the  Act  of  Parlia- 
ment. But  it  needed  not ;  after  his  mind  was  known,  none  was 
so  hardy  as  to  make  a  disturbance. 

I  did  not  expect  the  mob  at  Nantwich  (whither  I  was  now 
much  pressed  to  go)  would  be  so  quiet  as  that  at  Chester.  We 
were  saluted  with  curses  and  hard  names  as  soon  as  we 
entered  the  town.  But  from  the  time  I  alighted  from  my 
horse,  I  heard  no  one  give  us  an  ill  word  ;  and  I  had  as  quiet 
and  attentive  an  audience  as  we  used  to  have  at  Bristol,  while 
I  exhorted  the  '  wicked  to  forsake  his  way,  and  the  unrighteous 
man  his  thoughts.' 

Sat.  31. — I  preached  at  Booth  Bank,2  where  I  met  Mr.  C , 


1  Thomas  Broster.  of  Warrington,   the   last   Earl,   died   in 

2  The    house    at    which    Mr.    C 1759-      The    title   was    revived    for    his 

served  as  head  gardener  would  probably  daughter's  son,  George  Henry  Grey,  5th 

be  Dunham  Hall.    George   Booth,  Earl       Earl  of  Stamford,   in   1796.    Mr.   C 


TYPICAL    OPEN-AIR    PREACHING-PLACES    OF    WESLEY. 


1.  CXWICH. 

2.  BOLTON    CROSS    (FROM    A    RECONSTRUCTED    MODEL). 

3.    THE    OLD    HORSE-BLOCK    IN    THE    HIGH    BULLEN,    WEDNESBURY. 

Ko    2  is  reproduced  by  kind  permission  of  All.  J.T.  Brooke,  Chairman  of  Bolton  Park,  Committee,  and  No.  3  by 

the  courtesy  ot  Dr.  Dudley. 

57 


April  1763.]  A  Northern  Journey  59 

late  gardener  to  the  Earl  of  W .     Surely  it  cannot  be  !     Is 

it  possible  the  Earl  should  turn  off  an  honest,  diligent,  well-tried 
servant,  who  had  been  in  the  family  above  fifty  years,  for  no 
other  fault  than  hearing  the  Methodists  ? 

In  the  evening  I  preached  at  Manchester,  and  on  Monday  y 
APRIL  2,  at  Davyhulme.  Here  I  found  (what  I  had  never 
heard  of  in  England)  a  whole  clan  of  infidel  peasants.  A 
neighbouring  alehouse-keeper  drinks,  and  laughs,  and  argues 
into  Deism  all  the  ploughmen  and  dairymen  he  can  light  on. 
But  no  mob  rises  against  him  ;  and  reason  good :  Satan  is  not 
divided  against  himself. 

Wed.  4. — I  made  an  end  of  examining  the  society  at 
Manchester,  among  whom  were  seventeen  of  the  Dragoons. 
It  is  remarkable  that  these  were  in  the  same  regiment  with 
John  Haime  in  Flanders  ;  but  they  utterly  despised  both  him 
and  his  Master  till  they  removed  to  Manchester :  here  it  was 
that  one  and  another  dropped  in,  he  scarce  knew  why,  to  hear 
the  preaching.  And  they  now  are  a  pattern  of  seriousness,  zeal, 
and  all  holy  conversation. 

Tliur.  5. —  I  rode  to  Bolton,  and  found  the  society  just 
double  to  what  it  was  when  I  was  here  last  ;  and  they  are 
increased  in  grace  no  less  than  in  number,  walking  closely  with 
God,  lovingly  and  circumspectly  with  one  another,  and  wisely 
toward  those  that  are  without. 

Sat.  7. — I  rode  to  Chipping. 

Sun.  8. — As  soon  as  we  came  into  the  aisle  of  the  church 
from  the  vestry  a  man  (since  dead)  thrust  himself  between  Mr. 
Milner  and  me  and  said,  '  You  shall  not  go  into  the  pulpit.'  I 
told  him,  '  I  am  only  going  into  the  desk.'  He  said,  '  But  you 
shall  not  go  there  neither '  ;  and  pushed  me  back  by  main 
strength.  Eight  or  ten  noisy  men  joined  with  him  quickly,  and 
set  themselves  in  battle-array.  Fearing  some  might  take  fire  on 
the  other  side,  I  desired  Mr.  Milner  to  begin  the  service.  After 
prayers  (for  he  had  no  sermon  with  him)  great  part  of  the  con- 


we  may  possibly  identify  as  Mr.  Cross.  that  he  never  heard  it  suggested  that  his 

But    David     Cross,    great-grandson    of  great-grandfather   was   '  turned   off '    for 

John    and  Alice   Cross,    who   figure   so  hearing  the  Methodists.     Wesley  himself 

honourably    in     the     history     of    early  seems  to  have  been   incredulous.     The 

Methodism  in  one  of  its  most  remarkable  Crosses,  in  personal  character  and  ability 

centres,  assured  the  Rev.  Henry  J.  Foster  were  pure  gold. 


60  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [Aprui76s, 

gregation  followed  us  to  the  vicarage.  They  came  thither  again 
after  the  evening  service,  and  God  made  them  large  amends  for 
their  little  disappointment  in  the  morning. 

Mon.  9. — Mr.  Milner  rode  with  us  to  Kendal.  I  preached 
there  in  a  large,  convenient  room  (the  weather  not  allowing 
me  to  preach  abroad),  where  Mr.  Ingham's  society  used  to 
meet.  I  was  a  little  disgusted  at  their  manner  of  coming  in 
and  sitting  down,  without  any  pretence  to  any  previous  prayer 
or  ejaculation  ;  as  well  as  at  their  sitting  during  the  hymn, 
which  indeed  not  one  (though  they  knew  the  tune)  sung  with 
me.  But  it  was  far  otherwise  after  sermon,  for  God  spake 
in  His  word.  At  the  second  hymn  every  person  stood  up,  and 
most  of  them  sang  very  audibly;  and  the  greatest  part  of  the 
society  followed  us  to  our  inn,  nor  did  they  leave  us  till  we 
went  to  rest. 

Tues.  10. — We  breakfasted  at  Ambleside,  where  our  land- 
lord !  appeared  quite  open  to  conviction.  We  spoke  plainly  to 
him,  prayed  with  and  left  him  full  of  desire  and  thankfulness. 
Soon  after,  we  lost  our  way  in  a  vehement  shower  of  snow  ; 
but  recovered  it  in  about  an  hour,  and  got  over  the  mountains 
safe.  The  woman  of  the  house  where  we  dined  seemed  to 
be  one  that  feared  God  greatly  ;  yet  when  I  spake  of  being 
saved  by  faith,  she  appeared  to  be  utterly  astonished.  About 
six,  after  several  heavy  showers,  we  came,  moderately  weary,  to 
Whitehaven. 

Wed.  II.  —  Upon  examining  the  society,  I  found  that  '  the 
love  of  many '  was  '  waxed  cold.'  Nevertheless,  I  found  a 
considerable  number  who  appeared  to  be  growing  in  grace. 
But  surely  here,  above  any  other  place  in  England,  '  God 
hath  chosen  the  poor  of  this  world.'  In  comparison  of  these, 
the  society  at  Newcastle  are  a  rich  and  elegant  people.  It  is 
enough  that  they  are  '  rich  in  faith,'  and  in  the  '  labour  of  love.' 
Sat.   14. — As  we   rode   to   Clifton,  John    Ilampson2  and  I 


1  Of  the  Salutation  Inn.  his  death.     For  some  account  of  Hamp- 

2  Father  of  John  Hampson,  junior,  son,  father  and  son,  and  curious  ob- 
afterwards  a  Nonconformist  pastor  and  servations  on 'democratic  principles,' see 
master  of  a  charity  school,  whose  bio-  Moore's  Life  of  Wesley,  Preface,  vol.  i. 
graphy  of  Wesley  was  written  during  See  also  Atmore's  Memorial,  p.  176,  for 
his  life  and  published  immediately  after  a  graphic  description  of  the  son. 


April  1753.]  A  Northern  Journey  6 1 

could  not  but  observe  a  little  circumstance.  A  black  hail- 
cloud  was  driven  full  upon  us  by  a  strong  north-east  wind, 
till,  being  just  over  us,  it  parted  asunder,  and  fell  on  the  right 
and  left,  leaving  us  untouched.  We  observed  it  the  more, 
because  three  several  storms,  one  after  another,  went  by  in  the 
same  manner. 

Sun.  15. — I  preached  in  the  afternoon  at  Cockermouth,  to 
wellnigh  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  town.  Intending  to  go  from 
thence  into  Scotland,  I  inquired  concerning  the  road,  and  was 
informed  I  could  not  pass  the  arm  of  the  sea  which  parts  the 
two  kingdoms,  unless  I  was  at  Bowness,  about  thirty  miles  from 
Cockermouth,  soon  after  five  in  the  morning.  At  first  I  thought 
of  taking  an  hour  or  two's  sleep,  and  setting  out  at  eleven  or 
twelve.  But,  upon  further  consideration,  we  chose  to  take  our 
journey  first,  and  rest  afterward.  So  we  took  horse  about  seven, 
and,  having  a  calm,  moonshiny  night,  reached  Bowness  before  one. 
After  two  or  three  hours'  sleep  we  set  out  again  without  any 
faintness  or  drowsiness. 

Our  landlord,  as  he  was  guiding  us  over  the  Firth,  very 
innocently  asked  how  much  a  year  we  got  by  preaching  thus. 
This  gave  me  an  opportunity  of  explaining  to  him  that  kind 
of  gain  which  he  seemed  utterly  a  stranger  to.  He  appeared  to 
be  quite  amazed  ;  and  spake  not  one  word,  good  or  bad,  till  he 
took  his  leave. 

Presently,  after  he  went,  my  mare  stuck  fast  in  a  quagmire, 
which  was  in  the  midst  of  the  high-road.  But  we  could  well 
excuse  this  ;  for  the  road  all  along,  for  near  fifty  miles  after, 
was  such  as  I  never  saw  any  natural  road  either  in  England 
or  Ireland  :  nay,  far  better,  notwithstanding  the  continued 
rain,  than  the  turnpike  road  between  London  and  Canterbury. 

We  dined  at  Dumfries,  a  clean,  well-built  town,  having 
two  of  the  most  elegant  churches  (one  at  each  end  of  the 
town)  that  I  have  seen.  We  reached  Thornhill  in  the  evening. 
What  miserable  accounts  pass  current  in  England  of  the 
inns  in  Scotland  !  Yet  here,  as  well  as  wherever  we  called  in 
our  whole  journey,  we  had  not  only  everything  we  wanted,  but 
everything  readily  and  in  good  order,  and  as  clean  as  I  ever 
desire. 

Tues.  17. — We  set  out   about   four,  and    rode   over  several 


62  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [Apmi763. 

high  but  extremely  pleasant  mountains,  to  Lead  Hill ;  a 
village  of  miners,  resembling  Plessey,  near  Newcastle.  We 
dined  at  a  village  called  Lesmahagow,  and,  about  eight  in  the 
evening,  reached  Glasgow.  A  gentleman  who  had  overtaken  us 
on  the  road  sent  one  with  us  to  Mr.  Gillies's  house.1 

Wed.  1 8. — I  walked  over  the  city,  which  I  take  to  be  as  large 
as  [Cork  or]  Newcastle-upon-Tyne.  The  University  (like  that 
of  Dublin)  is  only  one  college,  consisting  of  two  small  squares  ; 
I  think  not  larger,  nor  at  all  handsomer,  than  those  of  Lincoln 
College,  in  Oxford.  The  habit  of  the  students  gave  me 
surprise.  They  wear  scarlet  gowns,  reaching  only  to  their 
knees.  Most  I  saw  were  very  dirty,  some  very  ragged,  and 
all  of  very  coarse  cloth.  The  high  church  is  a  fine  building. 
The  outside  is  equal  to  that  of  most  cathedrals  in  England  ; 
but  it  is  miserably  defaced  within,  having  no  form,  beauty,  or 
symmetry  left. 

At  seven  in  the  evening  Mr.  G[illies]  began  the  service,  at 
his  own  (the  college)  church.  It  was  so  full  before  I  came 
that  I  could  not  get  in  without  a  good  deal  of  difficulty. 
After  singing  and  prayer  he  explained  a  part  of  the  Cate- 
chism, which  he  strongly  and  affectionately  applied.  After 
sermon  he  prayed  and  sung  again,  and  concluded  with  the 
blessing.  He  then  gave  out,  one  after  another,  four  hymns, 
which  about  a  dozen  young  men  sung.  He  had  before  desired 
those  who  were  so  minded  to  go  away  ;  but  scarce  any  stirred 
till  all  was  ended. 

Thur.  19. — At  seven  I  preached  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
from  the  town  ;  but  it  was  an  extremely  rough  and  blustering 
morning,  and  few  people  came  either  at  the  time  or  place  of 
my  preaching :  the  natural  consequence  of  which  was  that  I 
had  but  a  small  congregation.  About  four  in  the  afternoon  a 
tent,  as  they  term  it,  was  prepared  :  a  kind  of  moving  pulpit, 
covered  with  canvas  at  the  top,  behind,  and  on  the  sides.  In 
this  I  preached  near  the  place  where  I  was  in  the  morning,  to 


1  For  an  account  of  Wesley's  friendship  experience,  &c,   see  Tyerman's   Life  of 

with    Dr.    Gillies,    the    introduction    of  Wesley,  vol.  ii.  pp.  164,  165  ;  Meth.Mag. 

hymns  into  the   College  Kirk,  Wesley's  1797,  p.  $11.      See  also  Butler's  Wesley 

work    on    Dr.    Gillies'   Historical    Col-  and    Whitefield  in  Scotland,    pp.    123-7, 

lections,  their  correspondence  on  religious  for  a  short  account  of  Dr.  Gillies. 


April  1703.)  With  Dr.  Gillies  in  Glasgow  63 

near  six  times  as  many  people  as  before  ;  and  I  am  persuaded 
what  was  spoken  came  to  some  of  their  hearts, '  not  in  word 
only,  but  in  power.' 

Fri.  20. — I  had  designed  to  preach  at  the  same  place,  but  the 
rain  made  it  impracticable.  So  Mr.  G[illies]  desired  me  to 
preach  in  his  church,  where  I  began  between  seven  and  eight. 
Surely  with  God  nothing  is  impossible !  Who  would  have 
believed,  five-and-twenty  years  ago,  either  that  the  minister 
would  have  desired  it  or  that  I  should  have  consented  to  preach 
in  a  Scotch  kirk  ? 

We  had  a  far  larger  congregation  at  four  in  the  afternoon 
than  the  church  could  have  contained.  At  seven  Mr.  G[illies] 
preached  another  plain,  home,  affectionate  sermon.  Has  not 
God  still  a  favour  for  this  city  ?  It  was  long  eminent  for  serious 
religion  ;  and  He  is  able  to  repair  what  is  now  decayed,  and  to 
build  up  the  waste  places. 

Sat.  21. —  I  had  designed  to  ride  to  Edinburgh  ;  but,  at  the 
desire  of  many,  I  deferred  my  journey  till  Monday.  Here  was 
now  an  open  and  effectual  door,  and  not  many  adversaries.  I 
could  hear  of  none  but  a  poor  Seceder,  who  went  up  and 
down,  and  took  much  pains.  But  he  did  not  see  much  fruit 
of  his  labour ;  the  people  would  come  and  hear  for  them- 
selves, both  in  the  morning,  when  I  explained  (without  touching 
the  controversy), '  Who  shall  lay  anything  to  the  charge  of  God's 
elect  ?  '  and  in  the  afternoon,  when  I  enforced  '  Seek  ye  the  Lord 
while  He  may  be  found.' 

Sun.  22. — It  rained  much  :  nevertheless,  upwards  (I  suppose) 
of  a  thousand  people  stayed  with  all  willingness  while  I 
explained  and  applied  'This  is  life  eternal,  to  know  Thee,  the 
only  true  God,  and  Jesus  Christ,  whom  Thou  hast  sent.' 
I  was  desired  to  preach  afterwards  at  the  prison,  which  I  did 
about  nine  o'clock.  All  the  felons,  as  well  as  debtors,  behaved 
with  such  reverence  as  I  never  saw  at  any  prison  in  England. 
It  may  be  some  even  of  these  sinners  will  occasion  joy  in 
heaven. 

The  behaviour  of  the  people  at  church,  both  morning  and 
afternoon,  was  beyond  anything  I  ever  saw  but  in  our  con- 
gregations. None  bowed  or  courtesied  to  each  other,  either 
before  or  after  the  service  ;  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of 


64  John   Wesley's  Journal  [April  nos. 

which  none  talked  or  looked  at  any  but  the  minister.  Surely 
much  of  the  power  of  godliness  was  here,  when  there  is  so  much 
of  the  form  still. 

The  meadow  where  I  stood  in  the  afternoon  was  filled  from 
side  to  side.  I  spoke  as  closely  as  ever  in  my  life.  Many  of 
the  students  and  many  of  the  soldiers  were  there  ;  and  I  bear 
them  witness  they  could  bear  '  sound  doctrine.' 

Mon.  23. — I  had  a  great  desire  to  go  round  by  Kilsyth,  in 
order  to  see  that  venerable  man,  Mr.  Robe,1  who  was  every  day 
expecting  (what  his  soul  longed  for)  '  to  depart  and  be  with 
Christ.'  But  the  continual  rains  had  made  it  impracticable  for 
us  to  add  so  many  miles  to  our  day's  journey  ;  so  we  rode  on, 
straight  by  the  Kirk  o'  Shots  ;  reached  Edinburgh  by  five  in  the 
afternoon  ;  lodged  at  Tranent ;  and  on  Tuesday  the  24th  came 
to  Berwick  in  good  time,  where  I  preached  on  the  bowling-green 
at  six.  The  wind  was  extremely  sharp,  and  we  had  several 
showers  while  I  was  speaking  ;  but  I  believe  scarce  five  persons 
went  away. 

Wed.  25. — We  came  to  Alnwick  on  the  day2  whereon  those 
who  have  gone  through  their  apprenticeship  are  made  free  of 
the  corporation.  Sixteen  or  seventeen,  we  were  informed,  were 
to  receive  their  freedom  this  day ;  and,  in  order  thereto  (such 
is  the  unparalleled  wisdom  of  the  present  corporation,  as  well  as 
of  their  forefathers),  to  walk  through  a  great  bog  (purposely 
preserved  for  the  occasion,  otherwise  it  might  have  been 
drained  long  ago),  which  takes  up  some  of  them  to  the  neck, 
and  many  of  them  to  the  breast. 

TV///'.  26. — I  spoke  severally  to  those  of  the  society,3  and 
found  they  had  been  harassed  above  measure  by  a  few  violent 
Predestinarians,  who  had  at  length  separated  themselves  from 
us.  It  was  well  they  saved  me  the  trouble,  for  I  can  have  no 
connexion  with  those  who  will  be  contentious.  These  I  reject, 
not  for  their  opinion,  but  for  their  sin  ;  for  their  unchristian 
temper  and   unchristian   practice  ;   for  being  haters  of  reproof, 


'  The  parish  minister  of  Kilsyth,  about  in  the  year  1742.    Seeabove,  vol.  iii.  p.  178. 

twelve    miles    north-east    of    Glasgow,  -  St.     Mark's     Day.       See     Stamp's 

through    whose  earnest   preaching  a  re-  Orphan  House,  p.   102. 

markable  revival  of  religion  took  place,  3  Of  this  society  Jenny  Keith  was  one 

an  account  of  which  Mr.  Robe  published  (IV.H.S.  vol.  vii.  p.  65). 


May  1753.] 


A  Northern  Journey  65 


haters  of  peace,  haters  of  their  brethren,  and,  consequently,  of 
God. 

Sat.  28. — I  returned  to  Newcastle. 

Sun.  29. — I  preached  at  Sunderland  at  eight  and  at  twelve. 
As  we  were  riding  back  the  wind  was  exceeding  high  ;  but  as 
we  entered  Newcastle  a  shower  began,  which  laid  the  wind 
and  then  gave  place  to  clear  sunshine.  I  was  extremely  weary 
when  we  came  in,  having  preached  four  times  on  Saturday. 
But  my  strength  soon  returned,  so  that  the  whole  congregation 
near  the  Keelmen's  Hospital  could  distinctly  hear  the  entire 
sermon.     And  great  was  the  Lord  in  the  midst  of  us. 

May  3,  T/iur. — I  preached  at  Gateshead  Fell  to  many 
more  than  the  house x  would  contain.  The  society  here  was 
increased  when  I  met  them  last  from  nine  or  ten  to  sixty 
members.  They  are  now  double  the  number,  and,  I  trust, 
will  ere  long  overtake  their  brethren  in  Kingswood. 

Fri.  4. — We  had  the  first  General  Quarterly  Meeting  of  all 
the  stewards  round  Newcastle,  in  order  thoroughly  to  under- 
stand both  the  spiritual  and  temporal  state  of  every  society. 

Mon.  7. — After  preaching  in  Durham  at  noon  I  rode  on  to 
Stockton,  and  took  my  usual  stand  in  the  High  Street  about 
six  in  the  evening. 

Tues.  8. — I  rode  to  Robin  Hood's  Bay,  near  Whitby.  The 
town  is  very  remarkably  situated  :  it  stands  close  to  the  sea, 
and  is  in  great  part  built  on  craggy  and  steep  rocks,  some 
of  which  rise  perpendicular  from  the  water ;  and  yet  the 
land  both  on  the  north,  south,  and  west  is  fruitful  and  well 
cultivated.  I  stood  on  a  little  rising  near  the  quay,  in  a 
warm,  still  evening,  and  exhorted  a  multitude  of  people  from 
all  parts  to  '  seek  the  Lord  while  He  may  be  found.'  They 
were  all  attention,  and  most  of  them  met  me  again  at  half 
an  hour  after  four  in  the  morning.  I  could  gladly  have  spent 
some  days  here  ;  but  my  stages  were  fixed,  so  on  Wednesday 
the  9th  I  rode  on  to  York. 

We  had  a  rough  salute,  as  I  went  to  preach,  from  a  company 
of  poor  creatures  in  the  way ;  but  they  were  tolerably  quiet 
during  the  preaching.     The  greatest  inconvenience  arose  from 

'  This,  Tyerman   says,  was  the  second  chapel  built  by  the  Methodists   in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Newcastle. 


66  John   Wesley  s  Journal  may  1753. 

the  number  of  people,  by  reason  of  which  the  room  1  (though 
unusually  high)  felt  as  hot  as  an  oven. 

Fri.  II. —  I  rode  over  to  Rufforth  2  and  preached  at  one  to 
an  earnest  congregation.  A  young  man,  remarkably  serious 
and  well-behaved,  and  rejoicing  in  his  first  love,  who  set  out 
but  a  few  minutes  before  me,  was  thrown  by  his  horse,  and 
(as  it  is  termed)  broke  his  neck.  Just  at  the  instant  a  person 
going  by  who  understood  the  case  took  hold  of  him  and  pulled 
it  into  its  place.  Oh  mystery  of  Providence  !  Why  did  not 
this  man  die  when  he  was  full  of  humble,  holy  love  ?  Why 
did  he  live  to  'turn  from  the  holy  commandment '  which  was 
then  written  in  his  heart  ? 

Sat.  12. — I  observed  a  remarkable  change  in  the  behaviour 
of  almost  all  I  met.  The  very  rabble  were  grown  civil,  scarce 
any  one  now  speaking  a  rude  or  an  angry  word. 

Sun.  13. — I  began  preaching  at  seven,  and  God  applied  it  to 
the  hearts  of  the  hearers.3  Tears  and  groans  were  on  every  side, 
among  high  and  low.  God,  as  it  were,  bowed  the  heavens  and 
came  down.  The  flame  of  love  went  before  Him  ;  the  rocks  were 
broken  in  pieces,  and  the  mountains  flowed  down  at  His  presence. 

I  had  designed  to  set  out  for  Lincolnshire  this  morning  ; 
but,  finding  that  a  day  of  God's  power  was  come,  I  sent  one  4 
thither  in  my  place,  and,  after  preaching  (as  I  had  appointed) 
at  Stamford  Bridge  s  and  at  Pocklington,  returned  to  York  in 
the  evening.  Let  us  work  together  with  Him,  when,  and  where, 
and  as  He  pleases  ! 

Every  night,  while  I  stayed,  many  of  the  rich  and  honourable 
crowded  in  among  us.  And  is  not  '  God  able,  even  of  these 
stones,  to  raise  up  children  to  Abraham '  ? 6 


1  In  Pump  Yard.     See  Lyth's  Early  Wesley  on  this  visit,  describes  the  effect 

Methodism  in  York,  p.  77.  of  his  preaching  (E.M.P.  vol.  i.  p.  252). 

-  Mrs.      Martha      Thompson,       who  '  Thomas  Mitchell, 

possessed  a  considerable  estate  at  Ruf-  ''  Tradition  says  in  an  old  barn  of  one 

forth,    two     miles    and     a    half    from  Robert  Dilcock  (Meth.   Welcome,   1902, 

Acomb,  had  '  opened  her  house  to  re-  p.  245). 

ceive     the     Methodist     preachers,    and  6  On  May  16,  and  again  on  the  28th, 

appears   to   have    used  her  influence  to  he  wrote   to   Blackwell,   with   greetings 

obtain  their  admission  into  York.'     See  from  his  wife,  who  accompanied  him  on 

Lyth's  Early  Methodism  in  York,  pp.  53,  this  journey,  and  a  joyful  assurance  of  a 

54.  '  plentiful  harvest '  in  all  the  North   of 

3  Thomas  Mitchell,  who  accompanied  England.    ( Works,  vol.  xii.  pp.  179,  180.) 


May  i753.i  A  Northern  Journey  67 

Sat.  19. — I  preached  at  Pocklington  again,  and  rode  on 
to  Whitgift  Ferry.  It  rained  a  great  part  of  the  way,  and 
just  as  we  got  to  the  water  a  furious  shower  began,  which 
continued  above  half  an  hour,  while  we  were  striving  to  get 
John  Haime's  horse  into  the  boat ;  but  we  were  forced,  after 
all,  to  leave  him  behind.  We  set  out  from  Whitgift  soon 
after  four  ;  but  the  violent  rain  which  attended  us  till  after 
seven  made  the  road  so  dirty  and  slippery  that  our  horses 
could  hardly  keep  their  feet,  so  that  it  was  nine  before  we 
reached  Epworth. 

Sun.  20. — We  had,  as  usual,  most  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
town   at  the  Cross  in  the   afternoon.      I  called   afterwards  on 

Mr.  M •  and  his  wife,  a  venerable   pair,  calmly  hastening 

into  eternity.  If  those  in  Paradise  know  what  passes  on  earth, 
I  doubt  not  but  my  father  is  rejoicing  and  praising  God,  who 
has,  in  His  own  manner  and  time,  accomplished  what  he  had 
so  often  attempted  in  vain.2 

Mon.  21. — I  rode  to  Sykehouse,  and  preached  about  noon, 
and  then  went  on  for  Leeds.  In  the  afternoon  we  called  at 
a  house  where  a  company  of  rough,  butcherly  men,  exceeding 
drunk,  were  cursing  and  swearing  at  an  unusual  rate.  I  spoke 
to  them,  in  spite  of  German  prudence,  and  they  were  not  only 
patient  but  exceeding  thankful. 

Tues.  22. — Most  of  our  preachers  met3  and  conversed  freely 
together,  as  we  did,  morning  and  afternoon,  to  the  end  of  the 
week,  when  our  Conference  ended  with  the  same  blessing  as 


'   Probably    Mr.    Maw.      See    above,  appointed  for  six  months  only.     When 

vol.  iii.  p.    135,  and   references.  his   appointed   time   expired  he   refused 

2  Wesley  Studies,  p.  74 — thepostscript  to  give  up  the  preacher's  house  or  the 

of  Samuel  Wesley's  last  letter  to  his  son  chapel.     Ejected,   he   drew  part  of  the 

John.  society  with   him,  embraced   Calvinistic 

J  The    tenth    Conference,    at    which  opinions,  built   the   White  Chapel,  and 

Wesley,     Grimshaw,     Milner,     twenty-  ministered   usefully  in   Leeds   for   thirty 

six  itinerants,  and  sixteen  local  preachers  years.      See    Methodist    Heroes    in    the 

were    present    (see    Tyerman,    vol.    ii.  Great     Hawortk     Round,     chap.     xiii. 

p.    166).      The   Minutes    of    this   Con-  During    this    Conference    the    brethren 

ference,    taken   by  Jacob  Rowell,   were  entered      complaint      respecting      some 

published   in  an  appendix  to  vol.   i.  of  allegations    made    by    Whitefield    with 

the  Octavo  Edition.     At  this  Conference  reference  to  the  preachers,  the  societies, 

John    Edwards,   one   of   the    preachers,  and  the  general  discipline.    In  a  friendly 

asked  for  a  permanent  appointment  to  letter  Wesley  conveyed  these  complaints 

Leeds.      This  was  refused,  and  he  was  to   Whitefield. 


68  John   Wesley  s  Journal  (May  1753. 

it  began,  God  giving  us  all  to  be  not  only  of  one  heart  but  of 
one  judgement. 

This  week  I  read  over  Mr.  Rimius's  Candid  Narrative}  It 
informed  me  of  nothing  new.  I  still  think  several  of  the  incon- 
siderable members  of  that  community  are  upright ;  but  I  fear 
their  governors  '  wax  worse  and  worse,  having  their  conscience 
seared  as  with  a  hot  iron.' 

Sun.  27. — I  was  afraid  many  of  the  congregation  at  Birstall 
would  not  be  able  to  hear  ;  but  my  fear  was  needless,  for  my 
voice  was  so  strengthened  that  even  those  who  sat  in  John 
Nelson's  windows,  a  hundred  yards  off,  could  (as  they  after- 
wards told  me)  distinctly  hear  every  word. 

Tues.  29. — I  preached  at  Keighley,  where  the  loving  spirit 
and  exemplary  behaviour  of  one  young  man  3  has  been  a  means 
of  convincing  almost  all  the  town,  except  those  of  his  own 
household. 

Wed.  30. — I  rode  to  Haworth,  where  Mr.  Grimshaw  read 
prayers,  and  I  preached  to  a  crowded  congregation  ;  but, 
having  preached  ten  or  eleven  times  in  three  days,  besides 
meeting  the  societies,  my  voice  began  to  fail.  Not  that  I  was 
hoarse  at  all,  but  I  had  not  strength  to  speak.  However,  it 
was  restored  at  Heptonstall  in  the  afternoon,  so  that  the  whole 
congregation  could  hear.  When  shall  we  learn  to  take  thought 
only  for  the  present  hour?  Is  it  not  enough  that  God  gives 
help  when  we  want  it  ? 

Thur.  31. — 1  rode  through  a  delightful  vale  to  General 
Wood,3  near  Todmorden.  The  sun  was  burning  hot,  but  they 
set  up  a  little  tent  for  me,  resembling  that  I  had  at  Glasgow. 
The  people  stood  or  sat  on  the  grass  round  about.  The  after- 
noon was  the  hottest  I  ever  remember  in  England,  so  that  by 
the  time  we  came  to  Bolton  I  was  fit  for  nothing  but  to  lie 
down.  However,  in  the  evening  my  strength  was  renewed,  and 
we  rejoiced  together  in  God  our  Saviour. 


1  Henry    Rimius    {W.H.S.     vol.     iv.  and  Whitefield,    vol.    ii.    p.    301. 

p.  80).     A  Candid  ATarrative  of  the  Rise  -  Probably    Thomas  Colbeck,   one  of 

and  Progress  of  the  Herrnhuters,  com-  the  most  amiable  characters  in  Yorkshire. 

monly    called    Moravians,     or     Unitas  See  above,  vol.  iii.  p.  369,  and  Laycock's 

Fratrum  ;    London,   1753.     See    Gentle-  Methodist  Heroes,  p.  139. 

man's  Mag.    1753,    p     236;   also  refer-  3  A  farmstead.     See    W.H.S.  vol.  vi. 

encesinTyerman's  Wesley,  vol.  ii.  p.  156,  p.  79. 


June  1783. 


An  '  Odd  Story  '  69 


JUNE  2,  Sat. — Hardly  knowing  how  to  give  credit  to  an  odd 
story  which  I  had  heard,  that  one  of  our  preachers  '  was  accus- 
tomed to  preach  in  his  sleep,  I  inquired  more  particularly 
concerning  it,  and  received  the  following  account : 

On  Friday,  May  25,  about  one  in  the  morning,  being  then  fast 
asleep,  he  began  to  speak.  There  were  present,  in  two  or  three 
minutes,  William,  Mary,  Amelia  Shent,  John  Haime,  John  Hampson, 
Joseph  Jones,  Thomas  Mitchell,  and  Ann  Foghill. 

He  first  exhorted  the  congregation  to  '  sing  with  the  spirit  and  the 
understanding  also,'  and  gave  them  directions  how  to  do  it.  He  then 
gave  out  that  hymn,  line  by  line — 

Come,  Holy  Spirit,  heavenly  Dove, 
With  all  Thy  quick'ning  powers  ; 

pitching  the  tune,  and  singing  it  to  the  end.  He  added  an  exhortation 
to  take  heed  how  they  heard;  then  he  named  his  text,  1  John  v.  19: 
'  We  know  that  we  are  of  God,  and  the  whole  world  lieth  in  wickedness.' 
He  divided  his  discourse  into  six  parts,  undertaking  to  show  (1)  that  all 
true  believers  are  of  God  ;  (2)  that  they  know  they  are  of  God  ;  (3)  that 
the  world  lieth  in  wickedness ;  (4)  that  every  individual  who  is  of  the 
world  is  in  this  condition  ;  (5)  the  dreadful  end  of  such.  He  (6)  closed 
with  an  exhortation  to  those  who  were  of  God  and  those  who  were  of 
the  world. 

After  he  had  gone  through  two  or  three  heads  he  broke  off,  and 
began  to  speak  to  a  clergyman,  who  came  in  and  interrupted  him.  He 
disputed  with  him  for  some  time,  leaving  him  space  to  propose  his 
objections,  and  then  answering  them  one  by  one.  Afterwards  he 
desired  the  congregation,  now  the  disturber  was  gone,  to  return  thanks 
to  God,  and  so  gave  out  and  sang — 

Praise  God,  from  whom  pure  blessings  flow  ! 

When  he  had  done  preaching  he  desired  the  society  to  meet,  to 
whom  he  first  gave  out  a  hymn,  as  before,  and  then  exhorted  them  to 
love  one  another:  (1)  because  they  had  one  Creator,  Preserver,  and 
Father  ;  (2)  because  they  had  all  one  Redeemer  ;  (3)  because  they  had 
all  one  Sanctifier  ;  (4)  because  they  were  walking  in  one  way  of  holiness  ; 
and  (5)  because  they  were  all  going  to  one  heaven. 

Having  sung  a  parting  verse,  he  said  (as  shaking  each  by  the  hand), 
'  Good-night,  brother ;    good-night,  sister.'     This   lasted   till   about   a 

1  Jonathan  Catlow.  See,  on  the  case,  Catlow,  see  Everett's  Manchester,  pp.  93, 
Watson's  Reply  to  Southey,  p.  197  n.  :  '  a  94  ;  Meth.  Rec.  Winter  No.,  1904,  p.  86  ; 
peculiarity  known    in  the  family.'     For       and  Atmore's  Methodist  Memorial,  p.  73. 


jo  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [June  1753. 

quarter  after  two,  he  being  fast  asleep  all  the  time.  In  the  morning 
he  knew  nothing  of  all  this,  having,  as  he  apprehended,  slept  from  night 
to  morning  without  dreaming  at  all. 

By  what  principles  of  philosophy  can  we  account  for  this  ? 

Mon.  4. — I  rode  from  Manchester  to  Chelmorton  Mn-the- 
Peak,  where  I  preached  in  a  little  meadow,  and  reached  Sheffield 
in  the  evening. 

Tues.  5. —  I  rode  over  to  Jonathan  Booth's  at  Woodseats, 
whose  daughter  had  been  ill  in  a  very  uncommon  manner.  The 
account  her  parents  gave  of  it  was  as  follows  : 

About  the  middle  of  December  1752  Elizabeth  Booth,2  junior,  near 
ten  years  old,  began  to  complain  of  a  pain  in  her  breast,  which  con- 
tinued three  days.  On  the  fourth  day,  in  a  moment,  without  any 
provocation,  she  began  to  be  in  a  vehement  rage,  reviling  her  mother, 
and  throwing  at  the  maid  what  came  next  to  hand.  This  fit  continued 
near  an  hour ;  then  in  an  instant  she  was  quite  calm.  The  next  morn- 
ing she  fell  into  a  fit  of  another  kind — being  stretched  out,  and  stiff  as 
a  dead  carcase.  Thus  she  lay  about  an  hour.  In  the  afternoon  she 
was  suddenly  seized  with  violent  involuntary  laughter  ;  and  she  had 
some  or  other  of  these  fits  several  times  a  day  for  about  a  month.  In 
the  intervals  of  them  she  was  in  great  heaviness  of  soul,  and  continually 
crying  for  mercy,  till  one  Saturday,  as  she  lay  stretched  out  on  the  bed, 
she  broke  out,  '  I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth.'  Her  faith  and  love 
increased  from  that  time  ;  but  so  did  the  violence  of  her  fits  also.  And 
often  while  she  was  rejoicing  and  praising  God  she  would  cry  out, 
'  O  Lord  ! '  and,  losing  her  senses  at  once,  lie  as  dead,  or  laugh  violently, 
or  rave  and  blaspheme. 

In  the  middle  of  February  she  grew  more  outrageous  than  ever. 
She  frequently  strove  to  throw  herself  into  the  fire  or  out  of  the  window. 
Often  she  attempted  to  tear  the  Bible,  cursing  it  in  the  bitterest  manner ; 
and  many  times  she  uttered  oaths  and  blasphemies  too  horrid  to  be 
repeated.  Next  to  the  Bible,  her  greatest  rage  was  against  the  Metho- 
dists— Mr.  W[esley]  in  particular.  She  frequently  told  us  where  he  was 
and  what  he  was  then  doing,  adding,  '  He  will  be  here  soon ' ;  and  at 
another  time,  '  Now  he  is  galloping  down  the  lane,  and  two  men  with 
him.'  In  the  intervals  of  her  fits  she  was  unusually  stupid,  and  moped, 
as  if  void  of  common  understanding  ;  and  yet  sometimes  broke  out  into 
vehement  prayer,  to  the  amazement  of  all  that  heard. 


1  ForBennet's  invitation  to  Chelmor-  -  See  Methodism  in  Sheffield,  p.  89; 

ton   by   the    Marsdens  and    the   grand-  Arm.  Mag.  1783,  p.  412  ;  and  especially 

father  of  Robert  Lomas   see  Memoir  of  Seed's  History  of  Norfolk  Street  Chapel, 

J.  Marsden,  Met  A.  Mag.  1808,  p.  32.  p.  20. 


June  1753.]  The  Case  of  Elizabeth  Booth  7 1 


Sometimes  she  would  strip  herself  stark  naked  and  run  up  and  down 
the  house,  screaming  and  crying,  '  Save  me  !  Save  me !  He  will  tear 
me  in  pieces.'  At  other  times  she  cried  out,  '  He  is  tearing  off  my 
breasts ;  he  is  pouring  melted  lead  down  my  throat.  Now  I  suffer 
what  the  martyrs  suffered ;  but  I  have  not  the  martyrs'  faith.' 

She  frequently  spoke  as  if  she  was  another  person,  saying  to  her 
father,  'This  girl  is  not  thine,  but  mine.  I  have  got  possession  of  her, 
and  I  will  keep  her,'  with  many  expressions  of  the  same  kind. 

She  often  seemed  to  be  in  a  trance,  and  said  she  saw  many  visions — 
sometimes  of  heaven  or  hell  or  judgement,  sometimes  of  things  which 
she  said  would  shortly  come  to  pass. 

In  the  beginning  of  March  Mrs.  G[reen]  came  over  to  Rotherham, 
who  herself  gave  me  the  following  account :  '  Soon  after  I  came  in  she 
fell  into  a  raging  fit,  blaspheming  and  cursing  her  father  and  me.  She 
added,  "  It  was  I  that  made  Green's  horse  so  bad  the  other  day  "  (which 
had  been  taken  ill  in  a  most  unaccountable  manner  as  soon  as  he  was 
put  into  the  stable).  "  I  did  it  that  thou  mightest  have  the  preaching 
no  more ;  and  I  had  almost  persuaded  thee  to  it.  It  was  I  that  made 
thee  bad  last  night."  She  was  then  taken  in  an  unusual  way.  All  the 
time  she  spoke  she  was  violently  convulsed,  and  appeared  to  be  in 
strong  agony.  After  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour  she  brake  out  into 
prayer,  and  then  came  to  herself,  only  still  dull  and  heavy.' 

John  Thorpe,  of  Rotherham,1  had  often  a  desire  to  pray  for  her  in 
the  congregation  ;  but  he  was  as  often  hindered  by  a  strong  and  sudden 
impression  on  his  mind  that  she  was  dead.  When  he  came  to  Wood- 
seats  and  began  to  mention  what  a  desire  he  had  had,  the  girl,  being 
then  in  a  raging  fit,  cried  out,  '  I  have  made  a  fool  of  Thorpe  ! '  and 
burst  out  into  a  loud  laughter. 

In  the  beginning  of  May  all  these  symptoms  ceased,  and  she  con- 
tinues in  health  both  of  soul  and  body.2 

Wed.  6. — It  being  still  sultry  hot,  I  preached  under  a  shady 
tree  at  Barley  Hall,  and  in  an  open  place  at  Rotherham  in  the 
evening.     On  Friday  the  8th  we  reached  Nottingham.     Mr.  S. 


1  Methodism  in  Sheffield,  p.  15  ;  Life  A   letter   from  J.   Wesley   to   his  great - 

of  C.    of  Huntingdon,   vol.   i.  pp.  148,  niece,      Patience      Whereat      (formerly 

266.     Mr.  Thorpe,  after  his  conversion,  Ellison)  brings  him,  in  extreme  old  age, 

joined     the     Methodists,     and     Wesley  again    into    contact    with     this     circle, 

stationed  him  at  Rotherham.     Later  he  W.   Thorpe's   ministry   was   remarkably 

became  pastor    of  an  Independent  con-  powerful. 

gregation.     His  son,  the  Rev.  William  -  The  girl  was  afterwards  married  to 

Thorpe,  was  minister   of  Castle   Green  John    Oliver,     one     of    the    preachers, 

Chapel,   Bristol,   in  which   the    Ellisons  who  left  the  work  in   1784  {Methodism 

and  some  of  the  Whereats  worshipped.  in  Sheffield,  p.  92). 


72  John    Wesley  s  Jottrnal 


[June  1763. 


met  us  here,  and  gave  us  a  pleasing  account  of  his  congregation 

at  S ,  continually  increasing,  and  growing  more  earnest  and 

more  scandalous  every  day.  At  Nottingham  also  God  is  greatly 
reviving  His  work,  and  pouring  water  upon  the  dry  ground. 

In  the  afternoon  I  rode  to  Markfield,1  where  I  carefully  read 
over  Mr.  Stinstra's  tract  upon  Fanaticism.2  He  is  doubtless 
a  well-meaning  man,  but  deeply  ignorant  of  the  subject  he 
treats  of ;  and  his  arguments  are  of  no  force  at  all,  for  they 
prove  abundantly  too  much.  They  utterly  overthrow  many 
of  the  grand  arguments  for  Christianity  ;  and  every  man  may, 
on  those  principles,  prove  the  Apostles  to  have  been  fanatics 
to  a  man. 

Sun.  10  (being  Whit  Sunday). — The  church  contained  the 
congregation  tolerably  well.  After  dinner  a  gentleman  who 
came  from  Leicester,  eight  miles  off,  invited  me  thither.3  About 
eight  I  preached  there,  in  a  place  near  the  walls,  called  the  Butt 
Close.  The  people  came  running  together  from  all  parts,  high 
and  low,  rich  and  poor ;  and  their  behaviour  surprised  me  ;  they 
were  so  serious  and  attentive,  not  one  offering  any  interruption. 

Mon.  n. — We  rode  to  Woburn. 

Tuesday  the  12th  promised  to  be  an  exceeding  hot  day  ;  but 
the  clouds  rose  as  soon  as  we  set  out,  and  continued  till  we  were 
near  Markyate  Street.  The  sun  was  then  burning  hot,  so  that 
how  my  fellow  travellers  would  get  forward  I  knew  not.  But 
God  knew.  As  soon  as  we  set  out  a  cloud  arose  and  covered 
us  again.  The  wind  then  came  about  and  blew  in  our  faces,  so 
that  we  had  a  tolerable  cool  ride  to  London. 

I  found  the  town  much  alarmed  with  Mr.  Rimius's  Narrative  * 
and  Mr.  Whitefield's  Letter  to  Count  Z[inzendorf].5     It  seems, 


'  Methodism   in   this  village  was  the  vol.    ii.    p.    463  ;    J\/eth.    Rec.    Nov.    I, 

mother  church  in  these  parts  (  W.M.  Mag.  1 900. 

1834,  p.  102).     Mr.  Ellis,  the  vicar,  was  4  Heber,    in    his    Bampton    Lecture, 

very    favourable    to    Methodism.      See  says :    '  The   calumnies   of  Rimius   and 

above,  vol.  ii.  pp.  462-3.  Stinstra  against  the  Moravian   Brethren 

-  See    IV.H.S.    vol.    iv.   p.  80  ;    Ben-  are  cases  in  point.     No  one  now  believes 

ham's  Memoirs  of James  Hut /on,  p.  343;  them.      Yet    they   could    deceive    even 

Abbey  and   Overton's  English  Church,  Warburton. '      (Quoted     in      D'Israeli's 

vol.  i.  p.  593.  Curiosities  of  Literature,  vol.  iii.  p.  145.) 

3  Some   have   thought   that    this   was  5  G.  Whitefield's  Expostulatory  Letter 

Mr.   Coltman.      See    Catherine  Hutlon  to    Count    Zinzendorf,    &c.     See  Tyer- 

and  her  Friends,    pp.    62,    87  ;   above,  man's  Whitefield,  vol.  ii.  p.  301. 


July  1753.1 


In  London  73 


indeed,  that  God  is  hastening  to  bring  to  light  those  hidden 
works  of  darkness.  [And  undoubtedly  none  who  reads  those 
tracts  with  any  degree  of  impartiality  will  ever  more  (unless 
he  be  himself  under  a  strong  delusion)  go  near  the  tents  of  those 
wicked  men.] 

Tues.  19. — Mr.  Wh[itefield]  showed  me  the  letters  he  had 
lately  received  from  the  Count,  Cossart,1  P.  Bohler,  and  James 
Hutton.2  I  was  amazed.  Either  furious  anger  or  settled  con- 
tempt breathed  in  every  one  of  them.3  Were  they  ashamed 
after  all  the  abominations  they  had  committed  ?  No  ;  they 
were  not  ashamed  :  they  turned  the  tables  upon  Mr.  Wh[itefield]. 
C[ossart]  protested  before  God  he  had  never  made  Lynde  any 
offer  at  all.  The  C[ount]  blustered,  like  himself,  and  roundly 
averred  he  could  say  something  if  he  would.  J[ames]  H[utton] 
said  flat,  '  You  have  more  than  diabolical  impudence  :  I  believe 
the  devil  himself  has  not  so  much.' 

Sun.  24. — Mr.  Walsh  preached  at  Short's  Gardens  in  Irish. 
Abundance  of  his  countrymen  flocked  to  hear,  and  some  were 
cut  to  the  heart.  How  many  means  does  God  use  to  bring 
poor  wanderers  back  to  Himself! 

JULY  i,  Sun. — He  preached  in  Irish  in  Moorfields.  The 
congregation  was  exceeding  large,  and  behaved  seriously, 
though  probably  many  of  them  came  purely  to  hear  what 
manner  of  language  it  was.  For  the  sake  of  these  he  preached 
afterwards  in  English,  if  by  any  means  he  might  gain  some. 

Tues.   3. — I   rode   over  to  Mr.  K 's,  at  Teddington,  '  an 

Israelite  indeed.'  Dr.  Hales4  sent  after  dinner  to  desire  our 
company,  and  showed  us  several  experiments.  How  well 
do  philosophy  and  religion  agree  in  a  man  of  sound  under- 
standing ! 

Sun.  8. — After  preaching  at  the  chapel,  morning  and  after- 
noon, I  took  horse  with  Mr.  P .     We  had  designed  to  ride 

only  two  or  three   hours,  in  order   to  shorten  the  next  day's 


1  Henry  Frederick  Cossart,  a  Moravian  to  attack  so  that  their  hearts  quake ' 
pioneer.  See  W.H.S.  vol.  iii.  p.  149;  (MemoirsoJ fames  //w/tow,  p.568,  No.  ix). 
Moravian  Messenger,  1876,  p.  247.  *  The   celebrated   scientist  and  philo- 

2  For  their  letters  see  Memoirs  of James  sopher.  See  '  Wesley's  Interviews  with 
Button,  pp.  304,  305.  Famous  People,'  Wesley  Studies,  p.  182. 

3  '  Method  with  the  chief  in  any  sect  is  Known  to  C.  Wesley,  and  Pope's  friend 
— to  treat  with  a  sovereign  contempt  or  and  neighbour. 

VOL.    IV  ; 


74  John   Wesley  s  Journal  uuiy  1753. 

journey.  But  a  young  man  who  overtook  us  near  Kingston 
induced  us  to  change  our  purpose.  So  we  only  rested  about 
half  an  hour  at  Cobham  ;  and,  leaving  it  between  nine  and  ten, 
rode  on  softly  in  a  calm,  moonshiny  night,  and  about  twelve 
came  to  Godalming.  We  took  horse  again  at  half  an  hour  past 
four,  and  reached  Portsmouth  about  one. 

I  was  surprised  to  find  so  little  fruit  here,  after  so  much 
preaching.  That  accursed  itch  of  disputing  had  wellnigh 
destroyed  all  the  seed  which  had  been  sown.1  And  this  '  vain 
jangling '  they  called  '  contending  for  the  faith.'  I  doubt  the 
whole  faith  of  these  poor  wretches  is  but  an  opinion.2 

After  a  little  rest  we  took  a  walk  round  the  town,  which  is 
regularly  fortified,  and  is,  I  suppose,  the  only  regular  fortifica- 
tion in  Great  Britain  or  Ireland.  Gosport,  Portsmouth,  and 
the  Common  (which  is  now  all  turned  into  streets),  may  probably 
contain  half  as  many  people  as  Bristol  ;  and  so  civil  a  people  I 
never  saw  before  in  any  seaport  town  in  England. 

I  preached  at  half  an  hour  after  six  in  an  open  part  of  the 
Common  adjoining  to  the  new  church.3  The  congregation  was 
large  and  well-behaved  ;  not  one  scoffer  did  I  see,  nor  one  trifler. 
In  the  morning,  Tuesday  the  10th,  I  went  on  board  a  hoy,  and 
in  three  hours  landed  at  Cowes,  in  the  Isle  of  Wight :  as  far 
exceeding  the  Isle  of  Anglesey,  both  in  pleasantness  and  fruit- 
fulness,  as  that  exceeds  the  rocks  of  Scilly. 

We  rode  straight  to  Newport,  the  chief  town  in  the  Isle,4  and 
found  a  little  society  in  tolerable  order.  Several  of  them  had 
found  peace  with  God.  One  informed  me  it  was  about  eight 
years  ago  since  she  first  knew  her  interest  in  Christ,  by  means 
of  one  who  called  there  in  his  way  to  Pennsylvania  ;  but,  having 
none  to  speak  to,  or  advise  with,  she  was  long  tormented  with 
doubts  and  fears.  After  some  years  she  received  a  fresh  mani- 
festation of  His  love,  and  could  not  doubt  or  fear  any  more. 
She  is  now  (and  has  been  long)  confined  to  her  bed,  and  con- 


'  See  Memoir  of  Mr.  Joseph  Webb,  *  The  society  belonged,  not  to  Wesley, 

Meth.    Mag.    1819,    p.   881;    Rev.    H.  but  to  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon  (Tyer- 

Smith's   Wesleyan  Methodism  in  Ports-  man's  Life   of  Wesley ',  vol.  ii.  p.  170). 

mouth;  article  in  Meth.  Rec.  Jan.  1, 1903.  '  St.  George's. 

Whitefield  had  spent  a  fortnight  here  in  *  '  One  of  the  preachers  had  been  there 

1749.  for  some  time'  (  Works,  vol.  xiii.  p.  336). 


July  1763.'  In  the  Isle  of  Wight  75 

/ 

suming  away  with  pining  sickness  ;  but  all  is  good  to  her,  for 
she  has  learned  in  everything  to  give  thanks. 

At  half  an  hour  after  six  I  preached  in  the  market-place  to 
a  numerous  congregation,  but  they  were  not  so  serious  as  those 
at  Portsmouth.  Many  children  made  much  noise,  and  many 
grown  persons  were  talking  aloud,  almost  all  the  time  I  was 
preaching.  It  was  quite  otherwise  at  five  in  the  morning. 
There  was  a  large  congregation  again,  and  every  person  therein 
seemed  to  know  this  was  the  word  whereby  God  would  judge 
them  in  the  last  day. 

In  the  afternoon  I  walked  to  Carisbrooke  Castle  ;  or  rather, 
the  poor  remains  of  it.  It  stands  upon  a  solid  rock  on  the  top 
of  a  hill,  and  commands  a  beautiful  prospect.  There  is  a  well 
in  it,  cut  quite  through  the  rock,  said  to  be  seventy-two  yards 
deep  ;  and  another  in  the  citadel,  near  a  hundred.  They  drew 
up  the  water  by  an  ass,  which  they  assured  us  was  sixty  years 
old.  But  all  the  stately  apartments  lie  in  ruins.  Only  just 
enough  of  them  is  left  to  show  the  chamber  where  poor  King 
Charles  was  confined,  and  the  window  through  which  he 
attempted  to  escape. 

In  the  evening  the  congregation  at  Newport  was  more 
numerous  and  more  serious  than  the  night  before.  Only  one 
drunken  man  made  a  little  disturbance.  But  the  mayor  ordered 
him  to  be  taken  away.1 

TJiur.  12. — We  set  out  early  from  Newport,  and  crossed 
over  from  Cowes  to  Southampton.  In  the  afternoon  we  came 
to  Salisbury,  and  on  Saturday  rode  on  to  Shaftesbury.2 

I  preached  in  the  new  house  in  the  evening,  on  Sunday 
afternoon  at  Longbridge  Deverill  ;  and  on  Monday  the  16th, 
before  noon,  praised  God  with  our  brethren  at  Bristol. 

Tues.  17. — At  their  earnest  desire,  I  preached  to  the  poor 
colliers  confined  in  Newgate  on  account  of  the  late  riot.3  They 
would  not  hear  the  gospel  while  they  were  at  liberty.  God 
grant  they  may  profit  by  it  now  ! 

Wed.  18. — We  set  out  for  the  west,  and  on  Friday  the  20th 


1  He  makes  no  allusion  to  his  earlier  the  colliers  arose.     The  riot  was  quelled 

visit  to  the  island  in  1735.  by  the  Scots  Greys.     (Latimer's  History, 

-  He   preached    at   Bradford,    Sarum,  p.    303  ;     Tyerman's    Life    of    Wesley, 

Frome,   and   Freshford  in  July.  vol.     ii.     p.      171  ;     Pawlyn's     Bristol 

s  Provoked  by  the  dearness  of  bread,  Methodism,   p.   48.} 


76  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Juiyi753. 

came  to  Plymouth  Dock.  I  found  much  hurt  had  been  done 
here  by  the  bitter  zeal  of  two  or  three  bigots  for  their  opinion. 
Two  years  ago  they  promised,  in  the  most  solemn  manner,  to 
let  all  controversy  alone  ;  but  quickly  after  the  fire  broke  out 
anew,  and  has  been  devouring  ever  since. 

Sat.  21. — I  endeavoured  to  convince  them  that  they  were 
destroying,  not  promoting,  the  work  of  God  ;  and  on  Sunday, 
when  I  spake  to  the  society  one  by  one,  they  seemed  once 
more  aware  of  Satan's  devices. 

Mon.  23. — I  rode  to  Launceston,  and  had  the  first  general 
meeting  of  the  stewards  for  the  eastern  part  of  Cornwall.  In 
the  evening  I  preached  in  perfect  peace — a  great  blessing,  if  it 
be  not  bought  too  dear  :  if  the  world  does  not  begin  to  love  us 
because  we  love  the  world. 

Tues.  24. — In  the  road  to  Camelford  I  was  taken  with  such 
a  bleeding  at  the  nose  as  I  have  not  had  since  my  return  from 
Georgia.  For  a  mile  or  two  it  increased  more  and  more,  and 
then  at  once  stopped  of  itself ;  so  I  rode  on  comfortably  (though 
the  day  was  extremely  hot),  and  reached  St.  Agnes  in  the 
evening. 

On  Wednesday  the  25th  the  stewards  met  at  St.  Ives  from 
the  western  part  of  Cornwall.  The  next  day  I  began  examin- 
ing the  society,  but  I  was  soon  obliged  to  stop  short.  I  found 
an  accursed  thing  among  them  :  wellnigh  one  and  all  bought  or 
sold  uncustomed  goods.  I  therefore  delayed  speaking  to  any 
more  till  I  had  met  them  all  together.  This  I  did  in  the  evening, 
and  told  them  plain,  either  they  must  put  this  abomination 
away,  or  they  would  see  my  face  no  more. 

Fri.  27. — They  severally  promised  so  to  do.  So  I  trust  this 
plague  is  stayed.1 

Sat.  28. — After  preaching  to  the  little  flock  at  Zennor,  we 
rode  on  to  St.  Just ;  and  found  such  a  congregation  at  six  in  the 
evening  as  we  used  to  have  ten  years  since.  I  did  not  find  any 
society  in  the  county  so  much  alive  to  God  as  this.  Fifty  or 
threescore  have  been  added  to  it  lately,  and  many  children 
filled  with  peace  and  joy  in  believing. 

Sun.  29. — I  preached  at  eight  to  a  still  larger  congregation  ; 
and  in  Morvah  at  one,  to  near  the  same  number.     Many  back- 


1  On  Friday,  July  27,  he  preached  at  Besore. 


Aug.  1753 .1 


In  Cornivall  7  7 

sliders  were  among  them  ;  to  whom  I  cried,  '  How  shall  1  give 
thee  up,  Ephraim?  '  Few  of  the  congregation  were  unmoved, 
and  when  wc  wrestled  with  God  in  prayer  we  had  a  strong  hope 
He  would  not  cast  them  off  for  ever.1 

About  five  I  began  preaching  at  Newlyn  on  part  of  the 
Gospel  for  the  day  :  '  Except  your  righteousness  shall  exceed 
the  righteousness  of  the  Scribes  and  Pharisees,  ye  shall  in  nc 
case  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven.'  In  the  morning  I 
waked  between  two  and  three.  I  had  had  a  looseness  for 
several  days. 

On  Sunday  it  increased  every  hour ;  but  I  was  resolved, 
with  God's  help,  to  preach  where  I  had  appointed.  I  had  now, 
with  the  flux,  a  continual  headache,  violent  vomitings,  and, 
several  times  in  an  hour,  the  cramp  in  my  feet  or  legs  ;  some- 
times in  both  legs  and  both  thighs  together.  But  God  enabled 
me  to  be  thoroughly  content,  and  thankfully  resigned  to  Him. 
I  desired  one  to  preach  in  my  place  in  Ludgvan  at  noon,  and  at 
Helston  in  the  evening  ;  and  another  on  Tuesday  noon  at 
Porkellis ;  promising,  if  I  was  able,  to  meet  them  in  the 
evening. 

Tues.  31. — After  living  a  day  and  a  half  on  claret  and 
water,  I  found  myself  so  easy  that  I  thought  I  could  ride  to 
Crowan.  I  found  no  inconvenience  the  first  hour,  but  in  the 
second  my  disorder  returned.  However,  I  rode  on,  being 
unwilling  to  disappoint  the  congregation,  and  preached  on 
1  Be  careful  for  nothing.'  I  then  rode  straight,  as  fast  as  I 
conveniently  could,  to  Mr.  Harris's  in  Camborne.2 

AUG.  1,  Wed. — At  half  an  hour  after  two  in  the  morning 
my  disorder  came  with  more  violence  than  ever.  The  cramp 
likewise  returned — sometimes  in  my  feet  or  hand,  sometimes 
in  my  thighs,  my  side,  or  my  throat.  I  had  also  a  continual 
sickness,  and  a  sensation  of  fullness  at  my  stomach,  as  if  it 
were  ready  to  burst.      I   took  a  vomit,  but  it  hardly  wrought 


1  In  July   he   preached    also    at    St.  he   frequently  preached    in   Besore,   the 

Agnes.  reason  doubtless  being  that  Truro  at  this 

*  In  July  he  preached  at  Besore  thrice.  time  was  amply  served  with  evangelical 

Sir  George  Smith,  whose  house  (Treliske)  preaching  by  the   Rev.  Samuel  Walker, 

is  within  two  miles  of  Besore,  notes  the  the    vicar,    who   was    one    of    Wesley's 

curious  fact  that,  whereas  Wesley  is  only  trusted  friends.     He  went  where  he  was 

known  to  have  preached  once  in  Truro,  most  needed. 


7%  John   Wesley  s  Journal  fAug.  1753. 


at  all ;  nor  did  anything  I  took  make  any  alteration.  Thus 
I  continued  all  day,  and  all  the  following  night ;  yet  this  I 
could  not  but  particularly  observe — I  had  no  headache,  no  colic, 
nor  any  pain  (only  the  cramp),  from  first  to  last. 

Thur.  2. — Perceiving  I  gained  no  ground,  but  rather  grew 
weaker  and  weaker,  my  stomach  being  drawn  downward,  so 
that  I  could  not  stand  nor  lie  but  on  my  right  side,  I  sent  to 
Redruth  for  Mr.  Carter,  who  came  without  delay.  Here  again  I 
saw  the  gracious  providence  of  God  in  casting  me  on  so  sensible 
and  skilful  a  man.  He  advised  me  to  persist  in  the  same  regimen 
I  was  in,  and  prescribed  no  physic,  except  a  small  dose  of  rhubarb. 
But  even  this  (as  I  expected  it  would)  was  thrown  up  again 
immediately. 

I  was  now  well  satisfied,  having  had  the  best  advice  which 
could  be  procured,  though  my  disorder  continued  much  as 
before.  But  about  five  in  the  afternoon  it  ceased  at  once, 
without  any  visible  cause.  The  cramp  also  was  gone,  my 
stomach  was  easy,  and  I  laid  down  and  slept  till  six  in  the 
morning. 

Fri.  3. — I  began  to  recover  my  strength,  so  that  I  could  sit 
up  near  two  hours  together.  And  from  this  time  I  felt  no 
inconvenience  ;  only  that  I  could  not  talk,  nor  stand  long  without 
resting. 

Sun.  5. — In  the  afternoon  I  rode  to  Redruth,  and  preached 
to  a  large  congregation  in  an  open  part  of  the  street.  My  voice 
was  low,  but,  the  day  being  calm,  I  believe  all  could  hear ;  and 
after  I  had  done,  I  felt  myself  considerably  stronger  than  when 
I  begun. 

Mon.  6. — 1  preached  at  Gwennap  at  five,  and  afterwards 
saw  a  strange  sight— a  man  that  is  old  and  rich,  and  yet  not 
covetous.  In  the  evening  I  preached  at  Penryn,  and  found  my 
strength  so  restored  that  I  could  speak  loud  enough  to  be  heard 
by  a  numerous  congregation  ;  and  thrice  the  next  day,  at  Penryn, 
Besore  i  (near  Truro),  and  St.  Ewe.2 

Wed.  8. — We  were  invited  to  Mevagissey,  a  small  town  on 
the  south  sea.  As  soon  as  we  entered  the  town  many  ran 
together,    crying,  'See,  the    Methodees    are   come.'     But   they 

In  the  Ordnance  Map  it  appears  as  -  In  August  he  preached  also  at '  Mary 

Bezoar.     See  above,  p.  77.  Week,'  St.  Me  wan,  and  Sand. 


Aug.  1753/  In  North  Cornivall  79 


only  gaped  and  stared  ;  so  that  we  returned  unmolested  to 
the  house  I  was  to  preach  at,  a  mile  from  the  town.  Many 
serious  people  were  waiting  for  us,  but  most  of  them  deeply 
ignorant.  While  I  was  showing  them  the  first  principles  of 
Christianity  many  of  the  rabble  from  the  town  came  up.  They 
looked  as  fierce  as  lions,  but  in  a  few  minutes  changed  their 
countenance  and  stood  still.  Toward  the  close  some  began  to 
laugh  and  talk,  who  grew  more  boisterous  after  I  had  concluded. 
Rut  I  walked  straight  through  the  midst  of  them,  and  took  horse 
without  any  interruption. 

On  TJiursday  the  9th  I  rode  to  Port  Isaac,  and  the  next  day 
to  Trewalder.  The  little  society  here  meet  every  night  and 
morning,  with  a  preacher  or  without  ;  and  whoever  comes  among 
them  quickly  feels  what  spirit  they  are  of. 

Sat.  11. — The  rain  stopped  at  twelve,  and  gave  me  an  oppor- 
tunity of  preaching  in  the  market-place  at  Camelford.  I  saw 
only  one  person  in  the  congregation  who  was  not  deeply  serious. 
That  one  (which  I  was  sorry  to  hear)  was  the  curate  of  the  parish. 

Almost  as  soon  as  we  set  out  we  were  met  by  such  a 
shower  of  rain  as  I  never  saw  before  in  Europe.  But  it  did 
us  no  hurt  ;  we  came  very  well,  though  very  wet,  to  St.  Gennys. 

Sun.  12. — I  never  saw  so  many  people  in  this  church;  nor 
did  I  ever  before  speak  so  plainly  to  them.  They  hear  ;  but 
when  will  they  feel?  Oh  what  can  man  do  toward  raising  either 
dead  bodies  or  dead  souls  ! 

Mon.  13. — The  rain  attended  us  all  the  way  to  Launceston. 
I  preached  at  noon,  but  was  not  dry  till  the  evening.  Yet  I  did 
not  catch  any  cold  at  all.  What  can  hurt,  without  leave  from 
God? 

Tues.  14. — I  willingly  accepted  the  offer  of  preaching  in  the 
house  lately  built  for  Mr.  Whitefield  at  Plymouth  Dock.  Thus 
it  behoveth  us  to  trample  on  bigotry  and  party  zeal.  Ought  not 
all  who  love  God  to  love  one  another  ?  ' 

Thur.  16. — I  rode  to  Cullompton,  but  could  not  reach  it  till 
it  was  too  late  to  preach.2 


1  At  this  time  Whitefield  was  visiting  "  But   the  Sermon  Register    indicates 

and   preaching   in  Wesley's  societies  in  preaching,  probably  the  day  following  in 

the    north,    and    on    the    14th   was    at  the  early  morning  and  later  in  the  day, 

Newcastle.  giving  three  texts. 


80  John   Wesley  s  Journal  tsept  1763. 

Sun.  19. — I  preached  thrice  at  Tiverton,  rode  to  Middlezoy 
the  next  day,  and  on  Tuesday  to  Bristol. 

Fri.  24. — I  endeavoured  once  more  to  bring  Kingswood 
School  into  order.  Surely  the  importance  of  this  design  is 
apparent,  even  from  the  difficulties  that  attend  it.  I  have 
spent  more  money  and  time  and  care  on  this  than  almost  any 
design  I  ever  had  ;  and  still  it  exercises  all  the  patience  I  have. 
But  it  is  worth  all  the  labour. 

Mon.  27. — I  came  early  to  the  New  Passage  ;  but  the  wind, 
shifting,  obliged  me  to  wait  near  six  hours.  When  we  were 
almost  over  it  shifted  again,  so  that  we  could  not  land  till 
between  six  and  seven. 

Tues.  28. — I  reached  Cardiff.  Finding  I  had  all  here  to 
begin  anew,  I  set  out  as  at  first,  by  preaching  in  the  Castle 
Yard  on  '  Lord,  are  there  few  that  be  saved  ? '  I  afterwards 
met  what  was  once  a  society,  and  in  the  morning  spoke  severally 
to  a  few  who  were  still  desirous  to  join  together,  and  build  up, 
not  devour,  one  another. 

I  preached  in  the  evening  at  Fonmon,  and  on  Thursday 
the  30th  spake  to  many  at  Cardiff  who  were  resolved  to  set  out 
once  more  in  the  Bible-way  and  strengthen  each  other's  hands 
in  God. 

Fri.  31. — We  had  a  pleasant  ride  and  a  ready  passage;  so 
that  we  reached  Bristol  in  the  afternoon.  I  preached  in  the 
evening  over  the  remains  of  Mary  Henley,  a  good  soldier  of 
Jesus  Christ,  who  died  rejoicing  in  His  love  the  same  day  I  set 
out  for  Cardiff. 

Sept.  3,  Mon. — I  began  visiting  the  little  societies  in 
Somersetshire  and  Wiltshire.  This  evening  I  preached  at 
Shepton  Mallet,  and  found  much  life  among  the  poor,  plain 
people.  It  was  not  so  at  Oakhill  the  next  day,  where  many 
once  alive  have  drawn  back  to  perdition.  But  at  Coleford,  in  the 
evening,  I  found  many  living  souls,  though  joined  with  some  who 
did  not  adorn  the  gospel. 

Wed.    5. — I    rode    over    to    Kingswood,  a  little   town    near 

Wotton-under-Edge.1      Some  weeks   since   W S was 

invited   to    preach    at  Wotton ;    which    he    did   once,  in    great 

1  Kingswood  junior  it  is  called  in  the  Sermon  Register.     In  September  1753  he 
preached  at  Road  and  Westbury. 


sept.  1753  Gloucestershire  and  Somerset  8 1 

peace.  But  the  next  time  he  went  the  mob  was  so  turbulent 
that  he  could  not  finish  his  sermon,  upon  which  one  desired 
him  to  come  to  Kingswood  ;  which  he  did,  and  many  people 
heard  him  gladly.  Soon  after  I  came  in,  a  multitude  of  people 
was  gathered  from  all  parts.  A  large  congregation  was  there 
at  five  in  the  morning,  and  a  larger  than  ever  in  the  evening. 
The  next  morning  I  accepted  of  Mr.  B[aylis]'s  offer ;  and, 
after  reading  prayers,  preached  at  the  church.  All  the  people 
expressed  huge  good-will,  but  none  appeared  to  be  deeply 
affected. 

At  half  an  hour  after  twelve  I  preached  in  the  street  at 
Wickwar,  about  four  miles  from  Kingswood,  where  there  has 
been  a  small  society  for  some  years,  many  of  whom  can  rejoice 
in  God.  The  rest  of  the  audience  gave  a  civil  attention,  and 
seemed  little  pleased  or  displeased  at  the  matter. 

Moii.  10.  —  I  preached  to  the  condemned  malefactors  in 
Newgate,  but  I  could  make  little  impression  upon  them.1  I 
then  took  horse  for  Paulton,  where  I  called  on  Stephen 
Plummer,  once  of  our  society,  but  now  a  zealous  Quaker.  He 
was  much  pleased  with  my  calling,  and  came  to  hear  me  preach. 
Being  straitened  for  time,  I  concluded  sooner  than  usual  ;  but 
as  soon  as  I  had  done  Stephen  began.  After  I  had  listened 
half  an  hour,  finding  he  was  no  nearer  the  end,  I  rose  up  to 
go  away.  His  sister  then  begged  him  to  leave  off,  on  which 
he  flew  into  a  violent  rage,  and  roared  louder  and  louder, 
till  an  honest  man  took  him  in  his  arms  and  gently  carried 
him  away. 

What  a  wise  providence  was  it  that  this  poor  young  man 
turned  Quaker  some  years  before  he  ran  mad  !  So  the  honour 
of  turning  his  brain  now  rests  upon  them,  which  otherwise  must 
have  fallen  upon  the  Methodists. 

I  preached  at  six  in  the  evening  at  Buckland,  about  two 
miles  from  Frome,  in  a  meadow  of  Mr.  [Jeremiah]  Emblem's,2  a 
wonderful  monument  of  the  grace  of  God,  who,  from  the  day  he 


1  See  Latimer's  History,  p.  305.  Pro-  pp.  35-40  (Society  Rolls  of  Frome  and 
bably  in  connexion  with  the  Bristol  four  other  places,  1759-62).  Mr.  Em- 
riots,  but  no  actual  executions  are  re-  blem  seems  to  have  removed  to  Bristol, 
ferred  to  in  Latimer's  History.  where  Wesley's  Roll  for  1783  gives  names 

•  See    Tuck's   Methodism    in    Frome,  that  support  this  view. 


82  John    Wesley  s  Journal 


Sept.  1763. 


received  peace  (being  then  acquainted  with  no  Methodist),  has 
continually  walked  in  the  light  of  God's  countenance.  The 
curate  had  provided  a  mob,  with  horns  and  other  things  con- 
venient, to  prevent  the  congregation's  hearing  me.  But  the 
better  half  of  the  mob  soon  left  their  fellows,  and  listened 
with  great  attention.  The  rest  did  no  harm,  so  that  we  had  a 
comfortable  opportunity,  and  another  at  five  in  the  mornine 

Tues.  ii. — I  rode  once  more  to  '  New  Kingswood.  The 
hearers  were  more  numerous  than  ever.  As  I  did  not  expect 
to  see  them  soon  again,  I  used  once  more  all  possible  plainness 
of  speech,  and  their  behaviour  seemed  to  show  that  the  word  of 
God  found  its  way  into  their  hearts.1 

Fri.  14. — I  read  with  great  attention  the  Chevalier  Ramsay's 
Philosophical  Principles  of  Religion.2  He  undertakes  to  solve 
all  the  difficulties  in  the  Christian  revelation,  allowing  him  only 
a  few  postulata  :  (i)That  human  souls  all  existed,  and  personally 
sinned  in  Paradise  ;  (2)  that  the  souls  of  brutes  are  fallen 
angels  ;  (3)  that  pain  is  the  only  possible  means  whereby  God 
Himself  can  cure  sin  ;  and  (4)  that  He  will  in  the  end,  by  the 
pains  of  purgatory,  purify  and  restore  all  men  and  all  devils. 
Amazing  work  this  ! 

Mon.  17. — I  began  visiting  the  societies  in  Wiltshire,  and 
found  much  cause  to  praise  God  on  their  behalf.3 

Thur.  27. — I  was  desired  by  Lady  F.4  to  visit  her  daughter, 
ill  of  a  consumption.  I  found  much  pity,  both  for  the  parent 
and  the  child,  pining  away  in  the  bloom  of  youth,  and  yet  not 
without  joy,  as  she  was  already  much  convinced  of  sin,  and 
seemed  to  be  on  the  very  brink  of  deliverance.  I  saw  her  once 
more  on  Saturday  the  29th,  and  left  her  patiently  waiting  for 
God.  Not  long  after  my  brother  spent  some  time  with  her  in 
prayer,  and  was  constrained,  to  the  surprise  of  all  that  were 
present,  to  ask  of  God  again   and   again  that  He  would  perfect 

1  On  Wednesday,  Sept.  12,  he  preached  of  Gallanc),  who  married  her  first  cousin 
at  Bath,  and  on  the  22nd  at  Bearfield.  John,  Earl  of  Shelburne.     Her  son,  born 

2  See  W.H.S.  vol.  iv.  p.  80.  in  1737,  was  first  Marquis  of  Lansdowne, 

3  In  Sept.  he  preached  in  Bristol,  Prime  Minister  in  1782.  She  led  her 
Road,  Melksham,  and  Freshford.  On  the  husband  to  leave  Ireland  and  buy  the 
24th  he  wrote  to  Dr.  Robertson  (  Works,  Bowood  property.  Her  husband's  sister 
vol.  xii.  p.  210).     See  below,  p.  99.  was  Lady  Arabella  Denny   (see  below, 

1  Lady  Fitzmaurice  (Mary  Fitzmaurice        Mays,  1783). 


Oct.  1753.  In  the  Isle  of  Wight  83 


His  work  in  her  soul,  and  take  her  to  Himself.  Almost  as  soon 
as  he  had  done,  she  stretched  out  her  hands,  said,  '  Come,  Lord 
Jesus,'  and  died. 

OCT.  I,  Mon. — I  rode  to  Salisbury,  and  the  next  day  to  a 
village  in  the  New  Forest,  eight  miles  wide  of  Southampton,1 
where  I  preached  in  the  evening  to  a  well-meaning,  serious 
congregation. 

Wed.  3. — We  rode  to  Southampton,  thence  crossed  over  to 
Cowes,  and  reached  Newport  before  eleven. 

At  five  in  the  afternoon  I  went  to  the  market-place.  The 
congregation  was  large  and  deeply  attentive.  It  was  near  the 
same  at  six  in  the  evening,  and  all  seemed  to  drink  in  the 
exhortation  to  '  present  themselves  a  living  sacrifice,  holy, 
acceptable  to  God.' 

A  little  before  noon  we  set  out  for  Shorwell,  a  village  six 
miles  south  from  Newport.  I  never  saw  a  more  fruitful  or  a  more 
pleasant  country  than  the  inland  part  of  this  island.  About  one 
I  preached  at  Shorwell  to  (I  suppose)  all  the  poor  and  middling 
people  of  the  town.  I  believe  some  of  the  rich  also  designed 
to  come,  but  something  of  more  importance — a  dinner — came 
between. 

At  five  I  preached  again  at  Newport  to  most  of  the  town, 
and  many  who  came  from  the  neighbouring  villages.  Surely,  if 
there  was  any  here  to  preach  the  word  of  God  with  power,  a 
multitude  would  soon  be  obedient  to  the  faith. 

Fri.  5. — After  preaching  at  six,  I  left  this  humane,  loving 
people,  rode  to  Cowes,  and  crossed  over  to  Portsmouth.  Here 
1  found  another  kind  of  people,  who  had  disputed  themselves 
out  of  the  power,  and  wellnigh  the  form,  of  religion.  How- 
ever, I  laboured  (and  not  altogether  in  vain)  to  soften  and 
compose  their  jarring  spirits,  both  this  evening  and  the  next  day. 

On  Sunday  noon  I  preached  in  the  street  at  Fareham.  Many 
gave  great  attention,  but  seemed  neither  to  feel  nor  understand 
anything.  At  five  I  began  on  Portsmouth  Common.  I  admired 
not  so  much  the  immense  number  of  people  as  the  un- 
common decency  of  behaviour  which  ran  through  the  whole 
congregation.  After  sermon  I  explained  to  them  at  large  the 
nature  and  design  of  our  societies,  and  desired  that,  if  any  of 

1  The  village  may  have  been  Ower,  near  Castle  Malwood. 


8 4  John   Wesley  s  Journal 


rOct.  1763. 


them  were  ^willing  to  join  ,therein,  they  would  call  on  me, 
either  that  evening  or  in  the  morning.  I  made  no  account 
of  that  shadow  of  a  society  which  was  before,  without  classes, 
without  order  or  rules,  having  never  seen,  read,  or  heard  the 
printed  rules  which  ought  to  have  been  given  them  at  their  very 
first  meeting.1 

Mon.  8.— I  rode  to  Godalming,  and  the  next  day  to  London. 
After  resting  there  five  days,2  on  Monday  the  15th  I  rode  to 
Bedford.  The  melancholy  account  which  I  received  here  was 
as  follows  : 

1.  In  the  year  1739  Mr.  [Ingham]  and  W[illiam]  Djelamotte]  came  to 
Bedford.3  By  them  I  was  convinced  that  I  was  in  a  state  of  damnation, 
though  I  was  outwardly  unblamable.  Some  of  the  Germans  came  down 
in  1741,  and  engaged  (1)  to  draw  no  one  from  the  Church;  (2)  to 
hold  a  meeting  on  Sunday  nights  for  us  that  were  of  the  Church. 
On  these  conditions  I  joined  with  them.  But  in  the  beginning  of  1742 
they  dropped  the  Sunday-night  preaching,  and  required  us  to  attend 
their  meeting  at  the  same  hour  that  we  used  to  go  to  church.  I  was 
much  troubled  at  this,  and  wrote  to  Mr.  John  Wesley,  entreating  him 
to  come  down  and  help  us. 

2.  When  the  Brethren  learned  this  they  gave  me  abundance  of  fair 
words,  and  persuaded  me  to  write  again,  and  desire  Mr.  W[esley]  not 
to  come.  I  was  then  made  servant  at  the  lovefeast.  I  still  received 
the  sacrament  at  the  church  once  a  year,  but  I  regarded  the  church 
less  and  less,  and,  being  continually  taught  that  works  signified  nothing, 
and  that  we  could  not  do  them  without  trusting  in  them,  I,  in  a 
while,  left  off  all  works  of  charity,  as  well  as  reading  the  Bible  and 
private  prayer. 

3.  Their  first  church  was  settled  here  in  the  beginning  of  the  year 
1744.  On  February  18  I  was  received  into  the  congregation  at 
London,  and  likewise  into  the  Helpers'  Conference.  In  1746 
Heckenwalder,   the  Chief  Labourer,4  insisted  on  my  putting  myself 

'The    Sermon    Register   in    October  first  met  for  worship  at  the  house  of  Mrs. 

has  also  Sarum,  Shaftesbury,  and  Wick.  Okeley,  in  High  Street,   and  chiefly  at 

2  His  ideas  as  to  '  rest '  were  peculiar.  her  expense  the  first  Moravian  chapel 
On  October  9  he  expounded  seven  chap-  was  built  in  1751.  (J.  A.  Sharp,  Bedford 
ters  and  preached  six  sermons.  Meth.  Mag.  Jan.  1894.)     A  Mr.  Francis 

3  On  the  invitation  of  Mr.  Francis  Okeley  was  Mayor  of  Bedford  in  1719- 
Okeley  and  the  Rev.  Jacob  Rogers,  ex-  20. 

curate  o  fSt.  Paul's  (see  below,  Oct.  16).  «  Minister  of  the   congregation.     For 

The  work   of  Mr.  Rogers  was  the  occa-       his  appointment  to  Bedford  see  Hutton's 
sion  of  the  invitation.     The  Moravians       Memoirs,  p.  101. 


Oct.  1763.1  A   'Melancholy  Account'  '85 


out  of  the  corporation.1  I  was  in  much  doubt  whether  it  was  right  so 
to  do,  but  he  commanded,  and  I  obeyed.  The  next  year  he  went  to 
London,  and,  at  his  return  to  Bedford,  spoke  to  this  effect :  '  My 
brethren,  we  have  received  new  orders.  In  London,  Yorkshire,  and 
all  other  places  no  person  is  to  go  out  of  the  town  without  the  leave  of 
the  Chief  Labourer.  So  it  must  be  here.  Observe,  no  one  must  go 
out  of  the  town,  no,  not  a  mile,  without  leave  from  me.'  2 

4.  In  spring  1750  they  began  building  the  chapel,  for  which  they 
collected  near  two  hundred  pounds,  and  borrowed  eight  hundred  more, 
for  which  eight  of  the  English  brethren  were  engaged.  Two  of  the 
English  were  bound  for  a  hundred  more,  but  none  of  the  ten  have  any 
security  at  all.  They  promised,  indeed,  to  lodge  the  writings  of  the 
house  in  their  hands,  but  it  was  never  done. 

5.  About  this  time  a  relation  left  me  two  houses  near  that  wherein 
the  single  men  lived.  The  Brethren  advised  me  to  rebuild  them  and 
add  another,  for  a  marriage  plan,  promising  to  let  me  have  whatever 
ground  I  wanted  behind  the  houses.  This  promise  they  renewed  over 
and  over.  About  Michaelmas  I  began,  and  followed  their  direction  in 
the  whole  building ;  but  the  night  before  I  began  I  went  to  Anton,3 
the  Chief  Labourer,  and  told  him  '  the  workmen  were  ready.  If  I  am 
to  have  ground  I  will  go  on,  but  not  else.'  He  said,  '  Go  on,  you  shall 
have  ground.'  Soon  after  he  set  out  the  ground,  for  which  I  was  to 
give  eight  pounds ;  but,  just  as  the  houses  were  finished,  Anton  and 
Schlicht  sent  for  me  and  told  me  they  had  received  a  letter  from 
London,  and  I  must  have  no  ground,  neither  would  they  use  the 
houses  for  a  marriage  plan.  They  were  too  near  the  single  men,  some 
of  whom  might  perhaps  see  a  woman  sometimes  in  the  yard.  At  the 
same  time  they  desired  I  would  stop  up  my  doors  and  windows  on 
that  side ;  if  I  would,  they  would  either  buy  the  houses  or  take  a  lease 
of  them. 

I  did  as  they  desired.  We  then  made  several  agreements,  one 
after  another  ;  but  they  would  stand  to  none  of  them.     I   offered  them 


'  This   points   to  W P (see  See  Nov.    14,    1757;    March    9,    1758. 

below,   par.   9)   being  none  other  than  This  last  reference  may  be   to   Okeley. 

William      Parker,      afterwards      mayor  See  Telford's  John   Wesley,  p.  210;  cf. 

(Journal,  April  12,  1757  ;  Feb.  3,  1758  ;  VV.M.  Mag.  1833,  p.  51. 

Feb.  5,  1761  ;  Oct.   16,    1772;  Nov.  30,  2  A    somewhat    forced    extension     of 

1784).     His   son-in-law,    E C ,  Order  No.  19  of  Bohler's  Societies  (see 

his  successor   in  the  mayoralty  (Oct.    16,  llutton's  version  of  these   Orders,  p.  29 

1772),  is,  as  the  identification  requires,  ff.,    and    cf.    above,    vol.     i.    p.    458). 

Edward   Chapman.     Doubtless   the  ori-  Under  this  rule  Wesley's  proposed  first 

ginal  document   is   in   the    Fetter  Lane  visit  to  Bristol  was  debated  (see  above, 

Archives.     Possibly   also    Parker's  con-  vol.  ii.  p.  157). 

flict  of  mind  is  traceable  in  the  entries.  3  Anton  Scifart. 


86  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [0ct  1753. 

to  lose  thirty  pounds,  nay,  at  last  fifty,  out  of  my  pocket ;  but  in  vain. 
So  at  this  day  I  have  but  three  pounds  a  year  rent  in  all,  out  of  which 
the  land-tax  is  to  be  paid. 

6.  It  is  a  general  observation  in  Bedford  that  the  Brethren  are  the 
worst  paymasters  in  the  town.  They  contract  debts,  and  take  no  care 
or  thought  about  discharging  them.  I  have  too  much  proof  of  this  in 
my  own  case  ;  for  many  of  them  are  in  my  debt,  and  never  come 
near  me. 

7.  Most  of  the  English  who  are  with  them,  that  are  of  any  trade, 
now  trade  for  the  Saviour ;  that  is,  they  work  for  the  Germans,  who 
take  all  the  profits,  and  use  them  as  their  journeymen.  As  such 
they  punctually  give  in  their  accounts  and  cash  ;  and  if  they  want  a 
coat,  or  anything,  ask  it  of  the  Brethren. 

Mr.  traded   for  and  lent  money  to  the  Saviour   till  he   was 

absolutely  ruined.  After  he  had  sunk  above  seven  hundred  pounds, 
he  begged  to  have  forty  or  fifty  repaid ;  but  in  vain.  But,  at  length,  by 
vehement  importunity,  he  procured  eighteen  pounds. 

8.  Mr.  Rimius  1  has  said  nothing  to  what  might  have  been  said 
concerning  their  marriage  economy.  I  know  a  hundred  times  more 
than  he  has  written  ;  but  the  particulars  are  too  shocking  to  relate.  I 
believe  no  such  things  were  ever  practised  before  ;  no,  not  among  the 
most  barbarous  heathens. 

9.  A  fortnight  before  Christmas  last  a  young  man  of  their  con- 
gregation having  married  my  daughter  without  having  first  obtained  the 
leave  of  their  Head  Labourer,  one  of  the  Labourers  came  to  my  house, 
and  read  to  me  nearly  these  words  : 

'  We,  the  Elders  of  the  congregation  of  the  Brethren,  declare  to 

you,  W[illiam]  P[arker J,  M P[arker],  your  wife,  E[dward]  C[hap- 

man],  and   E ,  your  daughter,  are  utterly  cut  off  from  all  church 

communion,  from  all  fellowship  and  connexion  whatsoever,  with  the 
Brethren,  and  that  for  ever  and  ever.' 

In  the  evening  I  met  the  little  society,2  just  escaped  with 
the  skin  of  their  teeth.  From  the  account  which  each  of  these 
likewise  gave,  it  appeared  clear  to  a  demonstration  (1)  that 
their  Elders  usurped  a  more  absolute  authority  over  the  con- 
science  than  the  Bishop  of  Rome  himself  does  ;  (2)  that  to  gain 
and  secure  this  they  use  a  continued  train  of  guile,  fraud,  and 
falsehood  of  every  kind  ;  (3)  that  they  scrape  their  votaries  to 

'  See  above>  P-  72.  Harpur)  Street,  in  a  large  brick  house 

2  Possibly  meeting  in  Parker's  house.       next  to  the  oldest  building  of  the  Pre- 
Later  William  Parker  lived  in  Angel  (i.e.       paratory  Council  School. 


Oct.  1753.1  Bedford  to  Canterbury  87 


the  bone  as  to  their  worldly  substance,  leaving  little  to  any, 
to  some  nothing,  or  less  than  nothing  ;  (4)  that  still  they  are  so 
infatuated  as  to  believe  that  theirs  is  the  only  true  Church 
upon  earth. 

Tues.  16. — I  preached  on  St.  Peter's  Green  at  seven  in  the 
morning  and  at  five  in  the  evening.  It  is  amazing  that  any 
congregation  should  be  found  here,  considering  what  stumbling- 
blocks  have  been  thrown  in  their  way.  Above  fourteen  years 
ago  Mr.  Rogers,1  then  curate  of  St.  Paul's,  preached  the  pure 
gospel  with  general  acceptance.  A  great  awakening  began, 
and  continually  increased,  till  the  poor  weathercock  turned 
Baptist.  He  then  preached  the  absolute  decrees  with  all  his 
might  ;  but  in  a  while  the  wind  changed  again,  and  he  turned 
and  sunk  into  the  German  whirlpool.  How  many  souls  has 
this  unhappy  man  to  answer  for  ! 

Fri.  19. —  I  returned  to  London. 

Sat.  20.2 — I  found  myself  out  of  order,  but  believed  it  would 
go  off.  On  Sutiday  the  21st  I  was  considerably  worse,  but 
could  not  think  of  sparing  myself  on  that  day. 

Mon.  22. — I  rose  extremely  sick,  yet  I  determined,  if  it 
were  possible,  to  keep  my  word,  and  accordingly  set  out  soon 
after  four  for  Canterbury.  At  Welling  I  was  obliged  to  stop  ; 
after  resting  an  hour,  I  was  much  better  ;  but  soon  after  1  took 
horse  my  sickness  returned,  and  accompanied  me  to  Brompton, 
near  Chatham.  In  the  evening  I  preached  to  a  serious  con- 
gregation,3 and  at  five  in  the  morning.  We  came  to  Canterbury 
about  one,  when  I  was  presently  seized  with  the  cold  fit  of  an 
ague.  About  twelve  I  fell  fast  asleep,  and  waked  well  at 
seven  in  the  morning.4 

Wed.   24. —  I   preached  in  the   evening  without    any  incon- 


1  See  Life  of  C.  of  Huntingdon,  vol.  i.  unjust    to   all   parties    concerned,    enter 
pp.  245,  &c.  into  details.     We  must  content  ourselves 

2  He  wrote  to  his  brother  ( Works,  here  with  the  quotation  of  references, 
vol.  xii.  p.  114;  see  Tyerman,  vol.  ii.  3  In  the  house  of  Mr.  Millen,  belong- 
p.  172).  The  unhappiness  resulting  from  ing  to  the  Dockyard  [Meth.  Mag,  1S16, 
a  hasty  and  ill-assorted  marriage  affected  p.  202).  He  died  about  1760  or  1 76 1, 
not  only  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wesley,  but  also  and  the  services  were  for  a  while  sus- 
Charles  and  his  wife.     The  trouble  was  pended. 

now  becoming  acute.     We  cannot,  with-  *  In  October  he  preached  at  Chatham 

out  a  condensation  of  facts  that  might  be  and  Canterbury. 


88  John   Wesley  s  Journal  fNov.  1753. 

venience,  and  at  five  in  the  morning  ;  but  about  nine  I  began 
shivering  again.  After  the  hot  fit,  I  lay  in  a  profuse  sweat  till 
eight.  I  then  gradually  cooled  till  I  fell  fast  asleep,  and  rested 
sweetly  till  the  morning. 

Fri.  26. — Being  determined  to  use  that  interval  of  health,  I 
procured  a  chaise,  and  reached  Brompton  in  the  evening.  I 
spoke,  as  I  was  able,  in  the  evening  ;  and  God  bore  witness  to 
the  word  of  His  grace. 

Sat.  27. —  I  came  to  London,  having  received  no  hurt,  but 
rather  benefit,  by  the  journey.1 

Nov.  1,  Thur. — I  began  visiting  the  classes,  though  I  found, 
by  the  loss  of  my  voice,  that  my  bodily  strength  was  not  so 
far  recovered  as  I  before  imagined. 

Sat.  3. — I  read  over  Andrew  Frey's 2  reasons  for  leaving  the 
Brethren.  Most  of  what  he  says  I  knew  before  ;  yet  I  cannot 
speak  of  them  in  the  manner  which  he  does.  I  pity  them  too 
much  to  be  bitter  against  them. 

Sun.  4. — I  rode  to  Hayes,  because  I  had  promised,  though 
I  was  much  out  of  order.  It  was  with  the  utmost  difficulty  that  I 
read  prayers,3  and  preached,  and  administered  the  sacrament. 
I  went  through  the  evening  service  with  more  ease  ;  but  at 
night  my  strength  quite  failed.  I  should  have  taken  some 
rhubarb  the  next  day,  but  I  had  no  time,  having  classes  to 
meet  from  morning  to  night. 

Thur.  8. — In  the  night  my  disorder  returned  more  violent 
than  it  had  been  since  I  left  Cornwall.  I  should  have  taken 
some  ipecacuanha  in  the  morning,  but  had  no  time  to  spare, 
my  business  being  fixed  for  every  hour  till  four  in  the  afternoon  ; 
and  by  that  time  all  my  complaints  were  gone,  so  that  I  needed 
only  a  little  food  and  rest. 

A/on.  12. — I  set  out  in  a  chaise  for  Leigh,  having  delayed 
my  journey  as  long  as  I  could.     I   preached  at  seven,  but  was 


1  On  Oct.  31  he  wrote  to  his  brother  yoke.'     See  W.H.S.  vol.  vi.  pp.  94.  95. 

Charles  from  London  (Works,  vol.  xii.  -  See   W.H.S.  vol.   iv.    p.    81  ;    Tyer- 

p.  116).     The  original,  in  the  Thursfield  man's  Oxford  Meth.  p.  136;    Whitefteld, 

Smith    collection,     adds    a     remarkable  vol.  ii.  p.  308. 

expostulation   to   this   letter,    on    which  3  In  the  church  of  his  friend,  Charles 

Charles  has  written  the  following  endorse-  Manning,    where    some    think    he    was 

ment  :     '  Trying  to  bring  me   under  his  married. 


Nov.  1763.1 


In  a  '  Consumption  '  89 


extremely  cold  all  the  time,  the  wind  coming  strong  from  a 
door  behind,  and  another  on  one  side  ;  so  that  my  feet  felt  just 
as  if  I  had  stood  in  cold  water. 

Tues.  13. — The  chamber  wherein  I  sat,  though  with  a  large 
fire,  was  much  colder  than  the  garden  ;  so  that  I  could  not  keep 
myself  tolerably  warm,  even  when  I  was  close  to  the  chimney. 
As  we  rode  home  on  Wednesday  the  14th,  the  wind  was  high 
and  piercing  cold,  and  blew  just  in  our  faces,  so  that  the  open 
chaise  was  no  defence,  but  my  feet  were  quite  chilled.  When  1 
came  home  I  had  a  settled  pain  in  my  left  breast,  a  violent 
cough,  and  a  slow  fever ;  but  in  a  day  or  two,  by  following 
Dr.  Fothergill's  x  prescriptions,  I  found  much  alteration  for  the 
better  ;  and  on  Sunday  the  18th,  I  preached  at  Spitalfields,  and 
administered  the  sacrament  to  a  large  congregation.2 

Mon.  19. — I  retired  to  Shoreham,  and  gained  strength  con- 
tinually ;  till  about  eleven  at  night,  on  Wednesday  the  21st,  I 
was  obliged  by  the  cramp  to  leap  out  of  bed,  and  continue,  for 
some  time,  walking  up  and  down  the  room,  though  it  was  a 
sharp  frost.  My  cough  now  returned  with  greater  violence,  and 
that  by  day  as  well  as  by  night. 

Sat.  24. — I  rode  home,  and  was  pretty  well  till  night  ;  but 
my  cough  was  then  worse  than  ever.  My  fever  returned  at 
the  same  time,  together  with  the  pain  in  my  left  breast ;  so  that 
I  should  probably  have  stayed  at  home  on  Sunday  the  25th, 
had  it  not  been  advertised  in  the  public  papers  that  I  would 
preach  a  charity  sermon  at  the  chapel,  both  morning  and  after- 
noon. My  cough  did  not  interrupt  me  while  I  preached  in  the 
morning;  but  it  was  extremely  troublesome  while  I  administered 
the  sacrament.  In  the  afternoon  I  consulted  my  friends 
whether  I  should  attempt  to  preach  again  or  no.  They  thought 
I  should,  as  it  had  been  advertised.  I  did  so  ;  but  very  few 
could  hear.  My  fever  increased  much  while  I  was  preaching  ; 
however,  I  ventured  to  meet  the  society,  and  for  near  an  hour 


1  Tyerman  (vol.  ii.  p.  174)  gives  an  proved  modern  treatment  for  consump- 
interesting  account  of  this  clever  though  tion,  of  which  all  his  friends  believed 
eccentric  Quaker  physician,  who  in  this  Wesley  was  actually  dying.  At  Leigh 
crisis  saved  Wesley's  life.  He  prescribed  he  lodged  with  Dr.  Cook. 
*  country  air.  with  rest,  asses'  milk,  and  *  In  November  he  preached  at  Fern- 
riding  daily,'  anticipating  the  most  ap-  hall  (Sermon  Register). 

VOL.   IV  6 


go 


John    Wesley  s  Journal 


[Nov.  1753. 


my  voice  and  strength  were  restored,  so  that  I  felt  neither  pain 
nor  weakness.1 

Mon.  26. — Dr.  Fothergill  told  me  plain,  I  must  not  stay  in 
town  a  day  longer ;  adding,  '  If  anything  does  thee  good,  it 
must  be  the  country  air,  with  rest,  asses'  milk,  and  riding  daily." 
So  (not  being  able  to  sit  a  horse)  about  noon  I  took  coach  for 
Lewisham. 

In  the  evening  (not  knowing  how  it  might  please  God 
to  dispose  of  me),  to  prevent  vile  panegyric,  I  wrote  as 
follows : 

U;ere  licti?  the  -Bon? 

OF 

JOHN    WESLEY, 

A    BRAND2   PLUCKED   OUT   OF   THE    BURNING: 

WHO    DIED   OF   A   CONSUMPTION    IN   THE    FIFTY-FIRST   YEAR   OF    HIS    AGE, 

NOT    LEAVING,    AFTER    HIS   DEBTS   ARE   PAID, 

TEN    POUNDS    BEHIND    HIM  : 

PRAYING, 

GOD    BE    MERCIFUL   TO    ME,    AN   UNPROFITABLE   SERVANT  ! 

He  ordered  that  this,  if  any,  inscription  should  be  placed  on  his  tombstone. 

Wed.  28. — I  found  no  change  for  the  better,  the  medicines 
which  had  helped  me  before  now  taking  no  effect.  About 
noon  (the  time  that  some  of  our  brethren  in  London  had  set 
apart  for  joining  in  prayer)  a  thought  came  into  my  mind  to 
make  an  experiment.  So  I  ordered  some  stone  brimstone  to 
be  powdered,  mixed  with  the  white  of  an  egg,  and  spread  on 
brown  paper,  which  I  applied  to  my  side.  The  pain  ceased 
in   five  minutes,  the  fever  in  half  an  hour,  and  from  this  hour 


'  The  texts  from  which  he  preached 
on  this  memorable  Sunday,  when  it  was 
believed  his  career  was  closing,  are 
pathetic.  '  For  our  conversation  is  in 
heaven,'  &c.  (Phil.  iii.  20),  and  in  the 
afternoon,  '  Who  shall  change  this  vile 
body  '  (Phil.  iii.  21).  Charles  did  not 
reach  London  until  Dec.  1.  On  the 
2nd  he  writes  :  '  I  attended  my  brother 
while  he  rode  out  for  the  air,  and  was 
surprised  to  see  him  hold  out  for  three 
quarters   of  an    hour,   and   even   gallop 


back  the  whole  way '  (C.  Wesley's 
Journal,  Dec.  2,  1753).  '  Mrs.  Gallatin 
assured  us  she  thought  he  would  have 
expired  at  the  altar  last  Sunday '  (C. 
Wesley's  Journal,  Nov.  29,  1753.)  On 
the  evening  of  Tuesday  Charles  writes, 
'  All  last  Tuesday  they  expected  his 
death  every  hour.'  His  last  request  was 
that  Mrs.  Wesley  and  Charles  might  be 
reconciled. 

2  Charles    Wesley    adds,     '  not    once 
only '  (Journal,  vol.  ii.  p.  97). 


Jan.  1764.1 


At  the  Hot   Well  91 


I  began  to  recover  strength.  The  next  day  I  was  able  to  ride, 
which  I  continued  to  do  every  day  till  January  1.  Nor  did  the 
weather  hinder  me  once,  it  being  always  tolerably  fair  (however 
it  was  before)  between  twelve  and  one  o'clock.1 

DEC.  14,  Fri. — Having  finished  all  the  books  which  I  de- 
signed to  insert  in  The  Christian  Library,  I  broke  through  the 
doctor's  order  not  to  write,  and  began  transcribing  a  Journal  for 
the  press  ;  and  in  the  evening  I  went  to  prayers  with  the  family 
without  finding  any  inconvenience.2 

Thur.  20. —  I  felt  a  gradual  increase  of  strength  till  I  took 
a  decoction  of  the  bark,  which  I  do  not  find  (such  is  the 
peculiarity  of  my  constitution)  will  agree  with  me  in  any  form 
whatever.  This  immediately  threw  me  into  a  purging,  which 
brought  me  down  again  in  a  few  days,  and  quite  disappointed 
me  in  my  design  of  going  out  on  Christmas  Day. 

1754.     Jan.  i,  Tues. — I  returned  once  more  to  London. 

On  Wednesday  the  2nd  I  set  out  in  the  machine,  and  the 
next  afternoon  came  to  Chippenham.  Here  I  took  a  post-chaise, 
in  which  I  reached  Bristol  about  eight  in  the  evening. 

Fri.  4. — I  began  drinking  the  water  at  the  Hot  Well,  having 
a  lodging  at  a  small  distance  from  it3 ;  and  on  Sunday  the  6th 
I  began  writing  Notes  on  the  New  Testament — a  work  which  I 
should  scarce  ever  have  attempted  had  I  not  been  so  ill  as  not 
to  be  able  to  travel  or  preach,  and  yet  so  well  as  to  be  able  to 
read  and  write.4 


1  Charles  Wesley's  letters  (xxii.,  xxiii.)  Downs,  where  the  wind  is  ready  to  carry 
and  Journal,  vol.  ii.  pp.  95-100,  192,  193,  me  away'  {Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  180). 
help  to  fill  up  December.  His  brother  Tradition  says  he  lodged  in  the  Colon- 
is   '  considerably   better,'    but    still   '  in  nade. 

imminent   danger,   being  far  gone,    and  '  The  notes  were  founded  on  Bengel's 

very  suddenly,  in  a  consumption.'  Gnomon  (see  Preface),  and  were  there- 

■  On  the  14th  he  journeyed  up  to  the  fore  concise  in  the  extreme.     They  were 

Foundery  '  for  a   few  minutes,'  and   on  intended   for   the  use  of  the  preachers, 

the    18th  Whitefield  called  to  see  him.  with  the  four  volumes  of  sermons  serving 

See   Tyerman's    Whitefield,   vol.    ii.  pp.  as  a  body  of  divinity— in  fact  a  doctrinal 

321,  322.  standard,  still   accepted  by   the   Metho- 

'  On  Jan.  5  he  wrote  to  Blackwell,  dists.  We  know,  from  letters  and  the  de- 
full  of  gratitude  for  his  friend's  kindness,  ciphered  shorthand  diary,  that  Charles 
and  contrasting  the  fine  air  of  Lewisham  Wesley  assisted  his  brother  in  transcrib- 
and  its  comfort  with  '  this  cold,  bleak  ing  the  Notes  for  the  press.  The  First 
place.  .  .  .  Nor  have  I  any  place  to  ride,  Edition  quarto  included  a  fine  copy  of  the 
but  either  by  the  river-side  or  over  the  'Williams' portrait.  See  also  below, p.  137. 


92  John    Wesley  s  Journal  iMarchi7M. 

Mon.  7. — I  went  on  now  in  a  regular  method,  rising  at  my 
hour,  and  writing  from  five  to  nine  at  night ;  except  the  time  of 
riding,  half  an  hour  for  each  meal,  and  the  hour  between  five  and 
six  in  the  evening. 

Sun.  13. — I  went  in  a  coach  to  Bristol,  and  gave  a  short 
exhortation  to  the  society. 

Mon.  14. — In  the  evening  one  or  two  of  our  neighbours 
desired  to  join  in  our  family  prayers ;  a  few  more  soon  made 
the  same  request,  so  that  I  had  a  little  congregation  every  night. 
After  a  few  nights  I  began  to  add  a  short  exhortation,  so  pre- 
paring myself  for  a  larger  congregation. 

Sat.  19. — Mr.  Bruce  came  with  Mr.  Milner,  who  had  been 
for  some  time  melancholy,  even  to  madness  ;  but  by  proper 
application  to  his  mind,  as  well  as  body,  the  disorder  sensibly 
abated  in  a  short  time. 

Thur.  31. — My  wife,  desiring  to  pay  the  last  office  to  her 
poor  dying  child,  set  out  for  London,  and  came  a  few  days  before 
he  went  home,  rejoicing  and  praising  God. 

Feb.  3,  Sun. — I  went  in  a  chaise  to  Kingswood,  and  ad- 
ministered the  sacrament  to  a  small  congregation.  I  expected 
Mr.  M[ilner]  to  assist ;  but  he  slipped  away,  and  hid  himself  till 
I  had  done. 

Wed.  13. — 1  was  sent  for  by  one  of  my  neighbours,1  dying 
of  a  consumption.  She  seemed  full  of  good  desires :  but  who 
does  not,  when  death  stands  at  the  door  ? 

Wed.  27. — My  brother  came  down  from  London,  and  we 
spent  several  days  together  in  comparing  the  translation  of 
the  Evangelists  with  the  original,  and  reading  Dr.  Heylyn's 
Lectures  2  and  Dr.  Doddridge's  Family  Expositor. 

March  10,  Sun. — I  took  my  leave  of  the  Hot  Well,  and 
removed  to  Bristol. 

Tues.  19. — Having  finished  the  rough  draft,  I  began  tran- 
scribing the  Notes  on  the  Gospels. 

Tues.  26. — I  preached  for  the  first  time,3  after  an  inter- 
mission of  four  months.       What  reason  have  I  to  praise  God 


1  In  Bristol.  iv.  p.    18;    also  above,  vol.  iii.  p.  241. 

2  Theological  Lectures  at  Westminster  *  The  Sermon  Register  entry  shows 
Abbey,  &c,  by  Dr.  John  Heylyn,  rector  that  he  preached  or  expounded  more 
of  St.  Mary-le-Strand.     See  W.H.S.  vol.  than  once. 


Apm  1764.1  Writing  at  Paddington  93 

that  He  does  not  take  the  word  of  His  truth   utterly  out  of 
my  mouth  ! 

Sat.   30. — I    took    my   leave  of   a  venerable  monument  of 

divine    mercy,   Colonel  T d l ;    who,  after   wandering  from 

God  fourscore  years,  has  at  length  found  the  way  of  peace,  and 
is  continually  panting  after  God.'-' 

April  i,  Mon. — We  set  out  in  the  machine,  and  the  next 
evening  reached  the  Foundery. 

Wed.  3. — I  settled  all  the  business  I  could,  and  the  next 
morning  retired  to  Paddington.  Here  I  spent  some  weeks  in 
writing  ;  only  going  to  town  on  Saturday  evenings,  and  leaving 
it  again  on  Monday  morning.3 

In  my  hours  of  walking  I  read  Dr.  Calamy's  Abridgement  of 
Mr.  Baxter's  Life}  What  a  scene  is  opened  here!  In  spite  of 
all  the  prejudices  of  education,  I  could  not  but  see  that  the  poor 
Nonconformists  had  been  used  without  either  justice  or  mercy  ; 
and  that  many  of  the  Protestant  Bishops  of  King  Charles  had 
neither  more  religion,  nor  humanity,  than  the  Popish  Bishops  of 
Queen  Mary. 

Sun.  2 15. — Mr.  [Charles]  Skelton  told  me,  'Sir,  I  intend,  on 
Friday  next,  to  go  down  to  Bury,  and  settle  there.'  Finding  he 
was  fully  determined,  I  said  nothing  against  it.  So  we  parted 
civilly. 

Mon.   29. — I  preached  at  Sadler's  [the  New]  Wells,6  in  what 


1  Possibly  Colonel  Trapand  (W.H.S.  entertainment  not  far  from  Sadler's  Wells, 
vol.  iii.  p.  180).  But  see  an  account  of  in  what  is  now  Lower  Rosoman  Street ; 
Col.  Townsend  in  Arm.  Mag.  1786,  and  it  seems  certain  that  this,  and  not 
p.  37.  On  March  30  he  wrote  to  Samuel  '  Sadler's  Wells,'  as  in  former  editions, 
Furly  (Tyerman,  Life  of  Wesley,  vol.  ii.  is  the  place  referred  to.  The  Gentleman 's 
p.  187).  Mag.  of  May  1752  says:   'The  theatri- 

2  In  March  he  also  preached  in  Bearfield.  cal  edifice  called  the  New  Wells,  near  the 

3  On  April  7  he  preached  at  West  London  Spaw,  was  preached  in  [on 
Street,  and  also  on  the  14th,  when  his  May  17]  for  the  first  time  by  a  clergy- 
sermon  was  the  means  of  the  conversion  of  man  methodist,  it  being  taken  by  the 
Alexander  Mather  {E.M.P.  vol.  ii.  p.  167,  Rev.  John  Wesley  for  a  tabernacle.'  It 
reprinted  as  Wesley's  Veterans,  vol.  ii.  had  been  closed  since  1750.  Sadler's 
p.  88  ;  Telford's  Two  West  End  Chapels,  Wells,  however,  was  in  continuous  use 
p.  19).  as  a  place  of  entertainment  throughout 

'  See  W.H.S.  vol.  iv.  p.  107.  the  eighteenth   century.     Confusion   has 

5  On  April  21  he  preached  at  Spital-  often  arisen  respecting  the  identity  of 
fields  ;  April  22  at  the  Founder}' ;  April  25  the  numerous  'Wells'  in  this  vicinity. 
at  Westminster  ;  May  3  at  West  Street.  See  Wroth's  London  Pleasure  Gardens  of 

6  The    '  New  Wells  '  was  a  place   of  the  Eighteenth  Century. 


94  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Mayi764. 

was  formerly  a  play-house.  I  am  glad  when  it  pleases  God  to 
take  possession  of  what  Satan  esteemed  his  own  ground.  The 
place,  though  large,  was  extremely  crowded,  and  deep  attention 
sat  on  every  face. 

Tues.  30. —  I  rode  to  S[undon],  with  one  to  whom  a  large 
estate  is  fallen,  by  her  uncle's  dying  without  a  will.  It  is 
a  miracle  if  it  does  not  drown  her  soul  in  everlasting 
perdition.1 

May  12,  Sun. — I  laboured  to  convince  Mr.  Green2  that  he 
had  not  done  well  in  confuting  (as  he  termed  it)  the  sermon 
I  had  preached  the  Sunday  before  in  the  morning,  from  the 
same  pulpit  in  the  afternoon  ;  but  he  was  absolutely  above 
conviction.  I  then  asked,  'Will  you  meet  me  half-way?  I 
will  never  preach  publicly  against  you  :  will  not  you  against 
me?'  But  he  disclaimed  any  such  agreement,  and  walked 
away,  as  one  who  did  not  design  to  come  any  more.  He  told 
all  he  met  I  had  put  him  away.  Indeed,  not  I  ;  but  I  adore  the 
providence  of  God.  He  has  put  himself  away  ;  nor  shall  I  desire 
him  to  come  again  till  he  has  a  more  sound  judgement,  or  a 
more  teachable  spirit.3 

Mon.  13. — I  began  explaining  to  the  morning  congregation 
Bolton's  Directions  for  Comfortable  Walking  with  God.*  I  wish 
all  our  preachers,  both  in  England  and  Ireland,  would  herein 
follow  my  example,  and  frequently  read  in  public  and  enforce 
select  portions  of  The  Christian  Library? 

Wed.  22. — Our  Conference6  began,  and  the  spirit  of  peace  and 
love  was  in  the  midst  of  us.  Before  we  parted,  we  all  willingly 
signed  an  agreement  not  to  act  independently  on  each  other  ;  so 


1  But  it  did  not.     The  person  referred  '  Robert  Bolton   (1572-1631),  Fellow 

to    was    Mrs.    Cole,    wife    of  Wesley's  of    Brasenose     College,     and    rector   of 

friend,    William    Cole  (magistrate  and  Broughton,  Northamptonshire.      Wesley 

sheriff    in    1757),    and    niece    of    Lord  inserted  his  Life  and  some  of  his  writings, 

Sundon,    from  whom   she   inherited  the  including  the  '  Directions,'  in  The  Chris- 

Manor  House,  where  the  Coles   resided  tian  Library.      See  vol.  iv.  (1827  ed.) 

from   1753  to   1771  {W.M.  Mag.  1901,  pp.  231-330. 

p.  922;  1886,  p.   59).     See  also  below,  5  On  Wednesday,  May  15,  he  preached 

Nov.  30,  1780.  at  Deptford. 

'-'  See  Life  of  C.  of  Huntingdon,  vol.  i.  '  This  was  the    eleventh  Conference, 

pp.  217,  358,  38S  ;  vol.  ii.  p.  350.  See     Myles's    Chronological  History   of 

3  On  the  1 2th  he  was  at  Snowsfields.  Methodism. 


June  1764. 


Convalescence  95 


that  the  breach  lately  made  1  has  only  united  us  more  closely 
together  than  ever. 

Sun.  26. — I  rode  to  Hillingdon,  and  preached  to  a  very 
genteel  congregation,  who  behaved  with  abundantly  more 
decency  and  seriousness  than  I  expected.  This  is  the  church 
to  which  many  of  Mr.  M[anning's]  parishioners  have  gone,  ever 
since  he  preached  salvation  by  faith.2  And  how  has  God  over- 
taken them,  who,  by  the  long  illness  of  the  curate,  has  brought 
Mr.  M[anning]  to  preach  at  this  very  place  ! 

JUNE  2  (being  Whit  Sunday). — I  preached  at  the  Foundery, 
which  I  had  not  done  before  in  the  evening.  Still  I  have  not 
recovered  my  whole  voice  or  strength  ;  perhaps  I  never  may. 
But  let  me  use  what  I  have.3 

Tues.  1 1. — I  rode  to  Cookham.  The  next  evening  I  preached 
in  a  magnificent  apartment 4  to  a  suitable  congregation.  How 
seldom  is  the  gospel  heard  in  a  palace !  But  what  is  too  hard 
for  God  ? 

Mon.  17. — I  took  another  ride  to  Sundon,  and  on  the  road 
read  Strada5  De  Bello  Belgico,  an  historian  scarce  inferior  in 
any  respect  either  to  Livy  or  Tacitus.  As  to  his  religion,  I 
should  rather  compare  him  to  the  former,  for  Tacitus  was  no 
friend  either  to  superstition  or  cruelty. 

Thur.  20. — We  spent  some  hours  at  Wrest,6  a  seat  of  the  late 
Duke  of  Kent,  who  was  forty  years  laying  out  and  improving 
the  gardens,  which  I  cannot  but  prefer  even  before  Lord 
Cobham's.7  But  how  little  did  the  place  answer  its  name  ! 
How  little  rest  did  its  miserable  master  enjoy  !     Thou,  O  God, 


1  This  refers   to  the  following   cases  :  preached  at  Fernhall,  and  on   May  6  at 
Jonathan  Reeves,  who  obtained  Episco-  Wapping. 

pal  ordination,  and  became  minister  of  3  On  June  15  he  preached  at  Snows- 
Magdalen  Hospital ;  Samuel  Larwood,  fields  ;  June  16  at  West  Street  ;  June  23 
who  settled  as  an  Independent  minister  at  Spitalfields  and  the  Foundery  ;  July  6 
at  Southwark  ;  J.  Edwards  (see  Crook-  at  Snowsfields. 

shank's  Meth.  in  Ireland,  vol.  i.  pp.  97,  *  Sir  George  Young's   '  elegant  seat,' 

98),  who  settled   at    Leeds,   where    he  built  on  Grounan's  Eyot. 

formed  an  Independent  church,  of  which  ~°  Famianus  Strada,  a  Roman  Jesuit, 

he  became  pastor  ;  Charles  Skelton,  who  See  W.H.S.  vol.  iv.  p.  107. 

settled  at  Southwark,  and  J.  Whitford  at  *  Wrest  Park,  near  Sitsoe,  Beds.   Mrs. 

Bolton.       See  also    W.M.   Mag.    1855,  Delany  (vol.  i.  p.  608)  and  Wesley  both 

p.  223.  spell  it  '  Rest.' 

2  See  Feb.  12,  1758.     During  May  he  '  At  Stowe. 


96  John    Wesley  s  Journal  rxu«.  i7M. 

hast  made  our  heart  for  Thyself,  and  it  cannot  rest  till  it  resteth 
in  Thee. 

Wed.  26. — I  read  one  of  the  prettiest  trifles  which  perhaps  is 
extant  in  the  English  tongue — Mr.  Hay  On  Deformity}  Surely 
such  a  writer  deserves  a  better  subject. 

JULY  6,  Sat. — I  spent  two  hours  in  the  gardens  at  Ken- 
sington. They  are  just  fit  for  a  king,  far  more  grand  than 
pleasant ;  and  yet  nothing  so  grand  as  many  parts  of  the  Peak 
in  Derbyshire. 

Mon.  8. — I  set  out  with  my  brother,2  and  on  Wednesday  the 
10th  reached  Lakenham,3  near  Norwich.  Here  we  had  a  full 
account  of  that  wretched  man,  James  Wheatley,  for  whom,  I 
fear,  it  had  been  good  if  he  had  not  been  born.  All  Norwich 
was  in  an  uproar  concerning  him,  so  that  it  did  not  appear  we 
could  have  any  place  there.  However,  on  Sunday  the  14th,  at 
seven  in  the  morning,  my  brother  took  his  stand  in  the  street.4 
A  multitude  of  people  quickly  gathered  together,  and  were 
tolerably  quiet,  all  things  considered.  I  would  willingly  have 
taken  his  place  in  the  evening,  but  had  neither  voice  nor  strength. 
However,  on  Thursday  the  18th,  being  a  little  recovered  from  the 
illness  which  had  attended  me  for  several  days,  after  my  brother 
had  done,  I  spoke  to  the  congregation  for  a  few  minutes,  and 
promised  to  see  them  again,  if  God  should  restore  my  strength, 
at  the  first  opportunity. 

Fri.  19. — I  rode  to  Newmarket,  and  the  next  day  to  Bedford. 

Sun.  21. — I  preached  near  St.  Peter's  Green,  having  never 
preached  abroad  since  I  was  there  before. 

Mon.  22.5 — I  returned  to  London.6 

AUG.  5,  Mon. —  I  set  out  for  Canterbury.  On  the  way  I  read 
Mr.  Baxter's  History  of  the  Councils?  It  is  utterly  astonishing, 
and  would  be  wholly  incredible  but  that  his  vouchers  are  beyond 


1  By  William  Hay,  M.P.     See  W.H.S.  '  John  Wesley  stood  by  him,  but  could 

vol.  iv.  p.  107.  take  no  part  (H.  Moore's  Life  of  Wesley, 

-  See    C.    Wesley's    account    of    the  vol.  ii.  p.  186). 

'  leisurely   travelling '   for    his    brother's  s  C.  Wesley's  Journal,  July   22.     An 

sake — '  God  in  the  weather  favoured  us,'  old  brewhouse  was  offered  at  Norwich 

and   see   also     the    new    and    enlarged  for  a  preaching-room, 

edition   of    C.    Wesley's    Journal,    July"  6  On    July   30    he    preached    at    the 

1754.  Foundery  in  London. 

Here  he  was   entertained   by  Capt.  T  Published  in  London  in  1680.     See 

Gallatin.  W.H.S.  vol.  iv.  p.  107. 


Aug.  1754.]  At  the  New  Hot   Well  97 

all  exception.  What  a  company  of  execrable  wretches  have 
they  been  (one  cannot  justly  give  them  a  milder  title)  who  have 
almost  in  every  age,  since  St.  Cyprian,  taken  upon  them  to 
govern  the  Church !  How  has  one  Council  been  perpetually 
cursing  another,  and  delivering  all  over  to  Satan,  whether  pre- 
decessors or  contemporaries,  who  did  not  implicitly  receive  their 
determinations,  though  generally  trifling,  sometimes  false,  and 
frequently  unintelligible  or  self-contradictory !  Surely  Maho- 
metanism  was  let  loose  to  reform  the  Christians !  I  know  not 
but  Constantinople  has  gained  by  the  change. 

Tues.  6. — I  was  much  out  of  order ;  however,  I  preached  in 
the  evening,  but  could  do  nothing  the  next  day.  On  Thursday 
I  hastened  back  to  London,  and  came  pretty  well  to  the 
Foundery.  I  consulted  Dr.  F[othergill]  the  next  morning,  who 
advised  me  to  return  to  the  Hot  Well  without  delay. 

Sun.  1 1. — I  buried  the  body  of  Mary  Doxsey,1  long  a  pattern 
of  patience  and  gentleness. 

Mon.  12. — I  set  out  in  the  machine,  and  on  Tuesday  night 
(taking  horses  at  Bath)  came  to  Bristol.2 

Wed.  14. — I  took  a  lodging  at  the  New  Hot  Well,  where  I 
was  free  both  from  noise  and  hurry,  and  had  an  opportunity  of 
drinking  the  water  late  in  the  evening  and  early  in  the  morning. 
But  my  course  of  physic  was  near  being  cut  short  the  next  day 
by  a  large  stone  which  was  hung  up  as  the  weight  of  a  jack.  I 
applied  to  my  head  cloths  dipped  in  cold  water,  which  presently 
stopped  the  bleeding,  and  so  abated  the  swelling  that  in  a  few 
hours  I  found  no  further  inconvenience.3 

Sat.  31. — After  preaching  at  Weaver's  Hall,  one  of  the 
audience,  a  clergyman  (who  had  then  a  parish  near  Bridgwater, 
but  is  now,  I  trust,  in  Abraham's  bosom),  desired  to  have  some 
conversation  with  me,  and  spoke  without  reserve.  His  experi- 
ence was  of  a  peculiar  kind,  much  resembling  that  of  Gregory 
Lopez.  But  he  soon  determined  to  seek  Christ  for  the  time  to 
come,  not  in  a  desert,  but  in  the  congregation  of  His  people.1 


1  See  Stevenson's   City  Road    lists  of  been  the  place  intended) ;  also Kingswood. 

members;    also   the   Colman   lists.     He  3  On  Wednesday,  Aug.  21,  he  preached 

also  preached  at  West  Street.  at  Westbury. 

"■  The    Sermon    Register   for    August  '  On  Sunday,  Sept.  I,  he  preached  at 

gives  Bristol  (Weaver's  Hall  may  have  Bristol. 


98  John    Wesley  s  Journal  t8ept  1754. 

Sept.  2,  Mon. — I  set  out  for  the  west.  About  eleven  one 
stopped  me  on  the  road  and  earnestly  desired  me  to  turn  aside 
and  pray  with  one  who  was  near  death.  I  found  her  worn  away 
to  a  skeleton  and  rotting  in  pieces  with  the  King's  evil.1  But 
her  greatest  trouble  seemed  to  be  that  she  was  not  so  alive  to 
God  as  formerly.  After  prayer  her  mind  was  more  composed, 
and  she  could  trust  God  both  with  her  soul  and  body. 

At  noon  I  met  the  little,  loving  society  at  Shepton,  and  in 
the  evening  preached  at  Middlezoy.  My  work  to-day  was  full 
enough  for  my  strength. 

Tues.  3. — We  rode  easily  to  Taunton.  After  we  had  rested 
a  while  one  desired  me  to  step  to  his  father,  who  was  dying 
of  a  consumption.  He  had  been  always  a  very  honest,  moral 
man,  but  now  found  this  was  not  the  one  thing  needful,  and 
appeared  earnestly  desirous  of  knowing  Christ  and  the  power  of 
His  resurrection. 

A  little  before  twelve  we  set  out  from  Taunton.  The  sun 
shone  exceeding  hot,  so  that  I  was  almost  worn  out  when  we 
called  at  the  house  of  a  friend  on  Maiden  Down.  But  after  a 
little  rest  my  strength  returned,  and  I  went  on,  not  much  tired, 
to  Tiverton.2 

Wed.  4. — We  took  horse  early,  and  rode  to  Okehampton. 
Our  landlord  here  informed  us  he  was  upwards  of  ninety,  yet 
had  not  lost  either  his  sight,  hearing,  or  teeth.  Nor  had  he 
found  that  for  which  he  was  born.  Indeed,  he  did  not  seem  to 
have  any  more  thought  about  it  than  a  child  of  six  years  old. 

We  could  not  but  observe  that,  although  the  sky  appeared 
continually  between  the  clouds,  which  drove  to  and  fro,  yet  the 
sun  scarce  shone  upon  us  for  six  minutes  together,  from  six  in 
the  morning  to  six  in  the  evening.  Soon  after  six  I  preached 
at  Launceston  and  met  the  society. 

Thur.  5. — At  noon  I  preached  at  the  town  hall  to  a  very 
wild  yet  civil  congregation.  At  two  the  stewards,  not  only 
from  the  upper  part  of  Cornwall,  but  several  from  the  western 
societies,  met.  At  six  I  preached  in  the  town  hall  again,  and 
for  the  sake  of  this  hour  only  (had  no  other  end  been  answered) 
I  should  have  thought  all  the  labour  of  my  journey  well  bestowed 


1  For  similar  cases  in  the  same  neigh-  •  And  preached  there, 

bourhood  see  below,  p.  285. 


sept.  1784.1  From  Devon  to  Bristol  99 

Fri.  6. — I  rode  to  Plymouth  Dock,  and  preached  in  the 
room  lately  built ;  but,  though  it  was  three  or  four  times  as 
large  as  the  old,  it  would  not  contain  the  congregation.  Is  the 
time  come  when  even  this  barren  soil  shall  bring  forth  '  fruits  of 
righteousness '  ? 

Sat.  7. — I  set  out  at  three,  reached  Cullompton  by  six  in 
the  evening,  and,  after  half  an  hour's  rest,  was  enabled  to 
preach  in  the  little  meadow,  without  any  faintness  or  weariness. 

Sun.  8. — In  the  evening  I  preached  at  Tiverton,  in  the 
garden  which  adjoins  to  the  preaching-house.  It  was  a  re- 
freshing season. 

Mon.  9. — I  preached  at  Charlton,  a  village  six  miles  from 
Taunton,  to  a  large  congregation  gathered  from  the  towns  and 
country  for  many  miles  round.  All  the  farmers  here  had,  some 
time  before,  entered  into  a  joint  engagement  to  turn  all  out  of 
their  service  and  give  no  work  to  any  who  went  to  hear  a 
Methodist  preacher.  But  there  is  no  counsel  against  the  Lord. 
One  of  the  chief  of  them,  Mr.  G ,  was  not  long  after  con- 
vinced of  the  truth,  and  desired  those  very  men  to  preach  at  his 
house.  Many  of  the  other  confederates  came  to  hear,  whom  their 
servants  and  labourers  gladly  followed.  So  the  whole  device  of 
Satan  fell  to  the  ground,  and  the  word  of  God  grew  and  prevailed. 

Tues.  10. — I  rode  to  Dr.  Robertson's,  at  Pitcombe,1  and, 
after  spending  a  few  agreeable  and  useful  hours  in  that 
delightful  recess,  went  forward,  about  four  miles,  to  West 
Combe.  I  preached  on  a  green  place  in  the  town,  about  eight 
in  the  morning,  to  a  deeply  attentive  congregation,  and  came  in 
the  afternoon  to  Bristol,  at  least  as  well  as  when  I  set  out.2 

Tues.   17. — I   rode  to  Trowbridge,   where    one3    who  found 


1  John  Robertson,  M.D.    On  Sept.  24,  Oliphant,  who   had  been   one    of  John 

1753,  Wesley  wrote  him  a  long   letter  Haime's  flock  in  Flanders.     The  room 

criticizing  Ramsay's  Principles  of  Religion  was    in   Waldron    Square,    Frog   Lane, 

(see  above,  p.  82),  which  Robertson  had  Dyer  (1862)  says,  '  Procured  at  his  own 

annotated.    (Works,  vol.  xii.  pp.  210-16  ;  expense.'     Oliphant   was   a   member   of 

IV.H.S.  vol.   v.   p.  15  ;  see  his  letter  to  the  first   class,  formed  by  John   Mason 

Wesley  in  Arm.  Mag.  1779,  p.  89  ;  also  (1781),  'Oliphant,  Knapp,  Welby,  and 

1780,  p.  552.)  their  wives.'    See  articles  on  Trowbridge 

'  On  Sept.  15  he  preached  at  Kings-  Methodism  in  Meth.  A'ec.  March  6,  1902, 

wood,  and  on  the  i6ih  in  Bristol.  and  May  II,  1905  ;  and  W.H.S.  vol.  vi. 

3  The  person  referred  to  by  Wesley  in  p.  115  (Notes  and  Queries,  No.  381,  with 

the  text  seems   to  have  been  Laurence  illustrations). 


ioo  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Oct.  nsi. 

peace  with  God  while  he  was  a  soldier  in  Flanders,  and  has 
been  much  prospered  in  business  since  his  discharge,  has  built 
a  preaching-house  at  his  own  expense.  He  had  a  great  desire 
that  I  should  be  the  first  who  preached  in  it ;  but,  before  I  had 
finished  the  hymn,  it  was  so  crowded,  and  consequently  so  hot, 
that  I  was  obliged  to  go  out  and  stand  at  the  door :  there  was 
a  multitude  of  hearers,  rich  and  poor.  Oh  that  they  may  not  all 
hear  in  vain  !  ' 

Fri.  27. — I  thought  I  had  strength  enough  to  keep  a  watch- 
night,  which  I  had  not  done  before  for  eleven  months.  But 
though  I  broke  off  at  eleven,  I  almost  lost  my  voice  ;  and  the 
next  evening,  at  Weaver's  Hall,  it  entirely  failed,  so  that  I  had 
much  difficulty  to  conclude  my  sermon. 

Mon.  30. — I  preached  at  Coleford,  our  other  Kingswood, 
where  also  the  lions  are  become  lambs.  On  Tuesday  we  went 
on  to  Salisbury. 

Oct.  2,  Wed. — I  walked  to  Old  Sarum,2  which,  in  spite  of 
common  sense,  without  house  or  inhabitant,  still  sends  two 
members  to  the  Parliament.  It  is  a  large,  round  hill,  encom- 
passed with  a  broad  ditch,  which,  it  seems,  has  been  of  a  con- 
siderable depth.  At  the  top  of  it  is  a  corn-field,  in  the  midst  of 
which  is  another  round  hill,  about  two  hundred  yards  in 
diameter,  encompassed  with  a  wall  and  a  deep  ditch.  Probably, 
before  the  invention  of  cannon,  this  city  was  impregnable.  Troy 
was  3 ;  but  now  it  is  vanished  away,  and  nothing  left  but  '  the 
stones  of  emptiness.' 

Thur.  3. —  I  rode  to  Reading,  and  preached  in  the  evening. 
Observing  a  warm  man  near  the  door  (which  was  once  of  the 
society),  I  purposely  bowed  to  him  ;  but  he  made  no  return. 
During  the  first  prayer  he  stood,  but  sat  while  we  sung.  In  the 
sermon  his  countenance  changed,  and  in  a  little  while  he  turned 
his  face  to  the  wall.  He  stood  at  the  second  hymn,  and  then 
kneeled  down.  As  I  came  out  he  catched  me  by  the  hand 
and  dismissed  me  with  a  hearty  blessing. 

Fri.  4. — I  came  to  London. 


'  On  Sept.  24  he  wrote  to  Blackwell  2  And   preached    from   the    following 

{Works,  vol.  xii.  p.   181).     Freshford  is  texts:  Isa.    xlii.    19;    I    John  iii.    21; 

named  in  the  Sermon   Register  for  this  Matt.  xvi.  23. 

month  (the  21st).  '   Ubi  Trojafuit  (where  Troy  was). 


Oct.  1764 


Sir  James  Lowther  101 


On  Monday  the  7th  I  retired  to  a  little  place  near  Hackney, 
formerly  a  seat  of  Bishop  Bonner's  '  (how  are  the  times  changed  !), 
and  still  bearing  his  name.  Here  I  was  as  in  a  college.  Twice 
a  day  we  joined  in  prayer.  The  rest  of  the  day  (allowing  about 
an  hour  for  meals,  and  another  for  walking  before  dinner  and 
supper),  I  spent  quietly  in  my  study.2 

Sat.  12. —  I  administered  the  sacrament  to   R A .3 

Some  years  ago  he  found  peace  with  God,  and  was  freed  at 
once,  without  any  human  means,  from  a  distemper  naturally 
incurable  ;  but  after  three  years,  on  his  falling  back  into  the 
world,  it  returned  more  violent  than  ever,  and  will  probably  now 
be  cured  no  more  but  by  the  universal  remedy — death.4 

Sat.  26. — Mr.  Gilbert  Tennent,5  of  New  England,  called 
upon  me  and  informed  me  of  his  design,  now  ready  to  be 
executed,  of  founding  an  American  College  for  Protestants  of 
every  denomination.  An  admirable  design,  if  it  will  bring 
Protestants  of  every  denomination  to  bear  with  one  another. 

Mon.  28. — I  delivered  my  own  soul  by  one  more  conversa- 
tion with  Sir  [James  Lowther],  the  substance  of  which  I  wrote 
to  him  the  next  day  in  the  following  letter : 

October  28,  1754. 

Sir, 

Whether  I  see  you  any  more  in  this  life  or  no,  I  rejoice  that  I 
have  seen  you  this  once ;  and  that  God  enabled  you  to  bear  with 
patience  what  I  spoke  in  the  simplicity  of  my  heart. 

The  substance  of  what  I  took  the  liberty  to  mention  to  you  this 
morning  was,  you  are  on  the  borders  of  the  grave,  as  well  as  I ;  shortly 
we  must  both  appear  before  God.  When  it  seemed  to  me,  some 
months  since,  that  my  life  was  near  an  end,  I  was  troubled  that  I  had 
not  dealt  plainly  with  you.  This  you  will  permit  me  to  do  now,  with- 
out any  reserve,  in  the  fear  and  in  the  presence  of  God. 

I  reverence  you  for  your  office  as  a  magistrate ;  I  believe  you  to  be 
an  honest,  upright  man  ;  I  love  you  for  having  protected  an   innocent 


1  An  old  manor-house  and  palace  ot  219,    for  postscript   of  a   letter   written 

the    bishops   of  London,  on  part  of  the  there, 

site  of  the  present  Victoria  Park  Chest  ''  Oct.  5,  Snowsfields. 

Hospital,    not   far   from   the    Children's  3  (?)  Richard  Annesley,  the  brother  ot 

Home  buildings  in  Bonner  Road.     See  Mrs.  Susanna  Wesley, 

an   article   by    Rev.   T.    E.   Brigden   in  4  Oct.  13,  Spitalfields  and  Foundery  : 

W.M.  Mag.    1910,    pp.    136    and   369.  Oct.  20,  Snowsfields,  Luke  vi.,  Eph.  vi.  11, 

See    also    below,     pp.     127     and    187  ;  Luke  xiii.  1,  Col.  ii.  6. 

and    C.    Wesley's    Journal,    vol.    ii.    p.  4  Whitefield's  friend. 


102  John   Wesley  s  Journal  ioct.  1754. 

people  from  their  cruel  and  lawless  oppressors.  But  so  much  the  more 
am  I  obliged  to  say  (though  I  judge  not,  God  is  the  judge),  I  fear  you 
are  covetous  ;  that  you  love  the  world.  And  if  you  do,  as  sure  as  the 
Word  of  God  is  true,  you  are  not  in  a  state  of  salvation. 

The  substance  of  your  answer  was  :  '  That  many  people  exhort 
others  to  charity  from  self-interest ;  that  men  of  fortune  must  mind  their 
fortune  ;  that  you  cannot  go  about  to  look  for  poor  people ;  that  when 
you  have  seen  them  yourself,  and  relieved  them,  they  were  scarce  ever 
satisfied  ;  that  many  make  an  ill  use  of  what  you  give  them  ;  that  you 
cannot  trust  the  account  people  give  of  themselves  by  letters  ;  that, 
nevertheless,  you  do  give  to  private  persons,  by  the  hands  of  Colonel 
Hudson  and  others ;  that  you  have  also  given  to  several  hospitals  a 
hundred  pounds  at  a  time ;  but  that  you  must  support  your  family ;  that 
the  Lowther  family  has  continued  above  four  hundred  years ;  that  you 
are  for  great  things — for  public  charities,  and  for  saving  the  nation 
from  ruin ;  and  that  others  may  think  as  they  please,  but  this  is  your 
way  of  thinking,  and  has  been  for  many  years.' 

To  this  I  replied:  '  (1)  Sir,  I  have  no  self-interest  in  this  matter;  I 
consult  your  interest,  not  my  own  ;  I  want  nothing  from  you,  I  desire 
nothing  from  you,  I  expect  nothing  from  you.  But  I  am  concerned 
for  your  immortal  spirit,  which  must  so  soon  launch  into  eternity, 
(2)  It  is  true,  men  of  fortune  must  mind  their  fortune ;  but  they  must 
not  love  the  world.  If  any  man  love  the  world,  the  love  of  the  Father 
is  not  in  him.  (3)  It  is  true,  likewise,  you  cannot  go  about  to  look  for 
poor  people ;  but  you  may  be  sufficiently  informed  of  them  by  those 
that  can.  (4)  And  if  some  of  these  are  never  satisfied,  this  is  no 
reason  for  not  relieving  others.  (5)  Suppose,  too,  that  some  make  an 
ill  use  of  what  you  give,  the  loss  falls  on  their  own  head  ;  you  will  not 
lose  your  reward  for  their  fault ;  what  you  laid  out,  God  will  pay  you 
again.  (6)  Yet  certainly  you  do  well  to  have  all  the  assurance  you  can 
that  those  to  whom  you  give  are  likely  to  make  a  good  use  of  it ;  and 
therefore  to  expect  a  stronger  recommendation  of  them  than  their  own, 
whether  by  letter  or  otherwise.  (7)  I  rejoice  that  you  have  given  to 
many  by  so  worthy  a  man  as  Colonel  Hudson,  whose  word  is  certainly 
a  sufficient  recommendation.  (8)  I  rejoice  likewise  that  you  have 
given  some  hundreds  of  pounds  to  the  hospitals,  and  wish  it  had  been 
ten  thousand.  (9)  To  the  support  of  the  family  I  did  not  object ;  but 
begged  leave  to  ask  whether  this  could  not  be  done  without  giving  ten 
thousand  a  year  to  one  who  had  as  much  already  ?  And  whether  you 
could  answer  this  to  God,  in  the  day  wherein  He  shall  judge  the  world  ? 
(10)  I  likewise  granted  that  the  family  had  continued  above  four 
hundred  years  ;  but  observed,  meantime,  that  God  regarded  it  not  one 
jot  the  more  for  this  ;  and  that  four  hundred  or  one  thousand  years  are 
but  a  moment,  compared  to  eternity,     (n)  I  observed,  likewise,  that 


Oct.  1764.]  Sir  James  Lowther  103 

great  things  may  be  done,  and  little  things  not  left  undone.  (12)  And 
that  if  this  or  any  other  way  of  thinking  he  according  to  Scripture,  then 
it  is  sound  and  good  ;  whereas,  if  it  be  contrary  to  Scripture,  it  is  not 
good,  and  the  longer  we  are  in  it,  so  much  the  worse.' 

Upon  the  whole,  I  must  once  more  earnestly  entreat  you  to  con- 
sider yourself,  and  God,  and  eternity.  (1)  As  to  yourself,  you  are  not 
the  proprietor  of  anything  ;  no,  not  of  one  shilling  in  the  world.  You  are 
only  a  steward  of  what  another  entrusts  you  with,  to  be  laid  out,  not 
according  to  your  will,  but  His.  And  what  would  you  think  of  your 
steward,  if  he  laid  out  what  is  called  your  money  according  to  his  own 
will  and  pleasure  ?  (2)  Is  not  God  the  sole  proprietor  of  all  things  ? 
And  are  not  you  to  give  an  account  to  Him  for  every  part  of  His 
goods  ?  And  oh  how  dreadful  an  account,  if  you  have  expended  any 
part  of  them  not  according  to  His  will,  but  your  own  ?  (3)  Is  not 
death  at  hand  ?  And  are  not  you  and  I  just  stepping  into  eternity  ? 
Are  we  not  just  going  to  appear  in  the  presence  of  God  ;  and  that 
naked  of  all  worldly  goods  ?  Will  you  then  rejoice  in  the  money  you 
have  left  behind  you  ?  Or  in  that  you  have  given  to  support  a  family,  as 
it  is  called — that  is,  in  truth,  to  support  the  pride,  and  vanity,  and  luxury 
which  you  have  yourself  despised  all  your  life  long  ?  Oh  sir,  I  beseech 
you,  for  the  sake  of  God,  for  the  sake  of  your  own  immortal  soul, 
examine  yourself,  whether  you  do  not  love  money?  If  so,  you 
cannot  love  God.  And  if  we  die  without  the  fear  of  God,  what  re- 
mains ?  Only  to  be  banished  from  Him  for  ever  and  ever  !  I  am, 
with  true  respect,  sir, 

Vour  servant,  for  Christ's  sake.1 


1  During  the  interval  between  Oct.  28,  craved  more  drastic  treatment  of  his 
1754,  and  Feb.  16,  1755,  Wesley's  leisure  work.  Wesley  consented.  But  now 
was  partly  occupied  in  studying  and  Hervey  was  offended,  and  a  breach  took 
criticizing  the  earlier  portion  of  Hervey's  place  which  was  never  repaired.  Her- 
TJieron  and  Aspasio.  Early  in  1755  this,  vey's  views  on  the  doctrine  of  the 
the  largest  and  most  important  of  '  Imputed  Righteousness  of  Christ ' 
Hervey's  works,  was  published.  It  alarmed  Wesley.  He  thought  their 
consisted  of  a  series  of  dialogues  in  which  tendency  was  towards  Antinomianism — 
scenic  descriptions  were  used  to  make  the  greatest  moral  peril  of  the  times, 
more  attractive  grave  discussions  on  especially  among  the  imperfectly  in- 
theological  questions.  The  writer,  in  structed  new  converts  of  the  Evangelical 
frail  health,  was  abnormally  sensitive  to  Revival.  For  a  full  description  of  this 
opinion.  He  consulted  a  large  number  once  popular  work  and  of  the  painful 
of  literary  and  evangelical  friends,  sending  controversy  which  clouded  the  closing 
them  sections  of  his  work  in  manuscript  months  of  Hervey's  beautiful  life,  see 
or  in  proof-sheets.  Wesley  returned  the  Tyerman's  Oxford  Methodists,  pp.  285- 
first  three  dialogues  sent  to  him  with  '  a  333  ;  see  also  below,  pp.  302-3,  and 
few  inconsiderable  corrections.'     Hervey  Works,  vol.  x.  pp.  316-35- 


PART   THE   TENTH 

THE    JOURNAL 

FROM    FEBRUARY    16,    1755,    TO   JUNE    16,    1758 


VOL.  IV 


The  question  as  to  the  relationship  of  Methodism  to 
the  Church  of  England,  always  present  in  Wesley's  mind, 
was  rapidly  passing  into  a  more  acute  stage.  Whatever 
may  have  been  the  case  at  a  later  period,  in  1755  the  two 
brothers  were  of  one  mind.  They  both  with  equal 
earnestness  deprecated  the  tendency  towards  Dissent 
which  so  often  revealed  itself  among  the  preachers.  John 
and  Charles  Wesley  at  this  time  differed  only  as  to 
future  possibilities.  John,  with  keener  vision  than  Charles, 
saw  that  in  a  more  or  less  remote  future  the  Methodists 
might  drift,  or  be  '  thittst  out.'  Against  such  a  con- 
tingency it  behoved  him  to  prepare.  Meantime,  both  by 
example  and  argument  he  sought  to  check  the  drift,  and 
to  minimize  the  practical  difficulties  of  a  situation  which 
was  becoming  more  and  more  painful. 

The  purpose  of  this  note  is  not  to  discuss  a  many-sided 
question,  but  to  emphasize  the  Leeds  Conference  of  1755 
as  a  point  of  departure  in  an  extremely  important  dis- 
cussion, and  to  draw  attention  to  those  original  sources  of 
information  which,  when  they  shall  have  been  rearranged 
in  order  of  date,  will  more  fully  illuminate  the  Church- 
manship  of  John  Wesley  and  the  attitude  of  the  early 
Methodists  towards  all  the  Churches  of  the  Reformation. 

In  a  collection  of  Charles  Wesley  MSS.  now  in  the 
Conference  Office  there  has  recently  been  found  a  small 
volume  which  contains  a  much  longer  version  of  '  Reasons 
Against  a  Separation  from  the  Church  of England'  (  Works, 
vol.  xiii.  p.  225.  The  date  is  probably  a  late  error). 
From  internal  evidence  we  may  assume  that  this  manu- 
script version  is  a  copy  by  Charles  Wesley's  amanuensis 
of  the  original  draft  'written  by  John  Wesley  in  1755  *'" 
connexion  with  the  Leeds  Conference.  This  draft  may 
be  the  '  manuscript '  referred  to  by  fackson  (Life  of  C.  W., 
vol.  ii.,  p.  84.  See  also  below,  p.  115).  Several  copies 
of  this  clearly  reasoned  and  popularly  worded  document 
were  made  at  the  lime.  The  one  in  Charles  Wesley's 
note-book  is  entitled,  '  Ought  zue  to  separate  from  the  Church 
of  England? '  Another  copy  was  sent  to  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Walker  of  Truro,  and  a  third  to  the  Rev.  Thomas  Adams 
of  Wintringham.  In  the  same  handwriting  is  a  copy 
of  John  Wesley's  Minutes  on  the  Leeds  Conference, 
including  his  closing  admonition  to  the  preachers  ;  and 
Copies,  partly  in  Charles  Wesley's  handwriting,  of  the 
correspondence  between  Wesley,  Walker,  and  Adams. 
There  are  also  several  letters  in  shorthand  by  Charles 
Wesley ;  also  shorthand  Minutes  of  the  Conference  of 
1756—  Aug.  26-28. 


THE   JOURNAL 

From  February   16,    1755,  to  June   16,    1758 

1755.  Feb.  16.1 — Having  heard  a  confused  account  from  a 
place  near  Camelford,  in  Cornwall,  I  wrote  to  a  friend  near  it, 
and  received  the  following  answer  : 

According  to  your  desire,  I  have  inquired  into  the  particulars  of  the 
late  affair  at  Delabole  Quarry.  The  rock  is  about  thirty  yards  thick ; 
but  the  most  valuable  part  of  the  stone  lies  undermost. 

There  were  nine  partners  who  shared  the  advantage  of  this  part  of 
the  Quarry.  Being  greedy  of  gain,  they  brought  out  as  much  of  the 
under  part  as  possible ;  and  the  rather  because  the  time  for  which  they 
had  hired  it  was  within  a  month  of  expiring. 

On  Monday,  Dec.  2,  William  Lane,  John  Lane,  William  Kellow, 
and  five  more  of  the  partners  met  in  the  morning  and  sent  one  of 
their  number  for  Theophilus  Kellow  to  come  to  work.  He  came,  but 
was  so  uneasy  he  could  not  stay,  but  quickly  returned  home.  William 
Kellow  was  sent  for  in  haste,  and  went  to  look  after  his  mare,  which 
had  cast  her  foal.  The  other  seven  continued  labouring  till  twelve. 
All  the  workmen  usually  dine  together;  but  these  wrought  on,  when 
the  rest  withdrew,  till  in  a  moment  they  were  covered  with  rocks  of  all 
sizes,  falling  about  ten  yards,  some  of  which  were  thought  to  be  three 
tons  weight.  William  Lane  had,  some  years  since,  known  the  love  of 
God.     He  was  sitting,  cleaving  stones,  when  the  rock  calved 2  in  upon 


1  The    Sermon    Register    shows    that,  Street  and  Foundery ;  Sun.  19,  Snowsfields. 

during  the  interval  between  the  last  date  Sat-  Feb-  8>  Snowsfields ;  Sun.  9,  West  Street 

t>     ..    tv        in  *       o  _    \  j   »i_  a"d  Foundery;  Mon.    10,  We.     [It  might  be 

in  Part   IX.     (Oct.  28,   1754)    and  the  ,vu„nc-  ,■  „  n'      w  ,,        ,,7  J    ■     * 

v  '      1  jt'  Wells     i.e.  New  Wells  or  Westminster,  not 

first    in   Part    X.    (Feb.     16,    1755),    he  West  Street, which  is  always  'C  or  'Ch'  or 

preached  asunder:  'The    Chapel'];   Tues.  11,  Westminster] ; 

Sun.     Nov.    3,    I7S4,     West     Street     and  Mon-  '?>  Foundery;    Thur.   20,    Foundery; 

Snowsfields;    Mon.  n,   Wapping  ;    Sun.  17,  Sun.  23,  Spitalfields  ;  Fri.  28,  West  Street. 
Snowsfields;  Mon.  18,  Foundery.  Sun. Dec.  i, 

Spitalfields;   Sat.  7,  Snowsfields;    Mon.  9,  2  'Calved,'    for     'caved    in,'    is    still 

N.W.  [New  Wells];    Sat.  ax,  Snowsfields;  dialect    English    in    many    parts,    North 

Sun.   22,   Spitalfields;    Mon     23,   Foundery;  T  !___i__i,{__      ~~„. .1,  c- 

_,  '     r  ..  ,,  ,. '    _        "    r       ,   J '  Lincolnshire     among     the     rest.       See 

Thur.   26,   Spitalfields;   Tues.  31,  Foundery.  .        & 

Wed.    Jan.   1,    1755,    Spitalfields;     Fri.    3,  Murray  s    Dictionary,    and    Notes    and 

Foundery ;  Sat.  4,  Snowsfields ;  Sun.  s,  West  Queries,  4th  series,  vol.  xii.  pp.  1 16    275. 

107 


108  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [April  1756. 

him,  with  a  concave  surface,  which  just  made  room  for  his  body  ;  only 
one  edge  of  it  light  upon  him,  and  broke  one  of  his  thigh-bones. 
When  they  dug  away  the  stones  he  was  earnestly  praying  to  God,  and 
confessing  his  unfaithfulness.  As  soon  as  he  looked  up  he  began  ex- 
horting all  around  instantly  to  make  their  peace  with  God.  His  bone 
being  set,  he  soon  recovered  both  his  bodily  strength  and  the  peace 
and  love  which  he  had  lost.  Another,  who  sat  close  by  his  side,  was 
covered  over  and  killed  at  once.  Close  to  him  John  Lane  (son  of 
William)  was  standing :  he  was  thrown  upon  his  face,  he  knew  not  how, 
and  a  sharp-edged  stone  pitched  between  his  thighs  ;  on  which  a  huge 
rock  fell,  and  was  suspended  by  it,  so  as  to  shadow  him  all  over.  The 
other  five  were  entirely  dashed  in  pieces. 

Doth  not  God  save  those  that  trust  in  Him  ? 

April  i,  Tues.1 — I  rode  from  Bristol  to  a  village  named 
Kingswood,2  near  Wotton-under-Edge.  The  church  was  ex- 
ceeding full,  and  the  congregation  was  serious  and  well- 
behaved  ;  and  I  had  since  the  satisfaction  of  being  informed 
that  many  of  them  are  much  changed,  at  least  in  their  outward 
behaviour. 

Wed.  2. — With  some  difficulty  we  reached  Stanley.  There  has 
been  lately  a  great  awakening  in  this  country.  I  never  saw  such 
a  congregation  here  before,  notwithstanding  the  wind  and  rain  ; 
and  all  present  seemed  to  receive  the  word  with  gladness  and 
readiness  of  mind.  There  is  a  solid,  serious  people  in  these 
parts,  who  stand  their  ground  against  all  opposition.  The 
warmest  opposers  are  the  Jacobites,  who  do  not  love  us,  because 
we  love  King  George.  But  they  profit  nothing  ;  for  more  and 
more  people  '  fear  God,  and  honour  the  King.' 

We  rode  on  Thursday  in  the  afternoon,  through  heavy  rain 
and  almost  impassable  roads,  to  Evesham  ;  and  on  Friday  the 
4th  to  Birmingham,  a  barren,  dry,  uncomfortable  place.  Most 
of  the  seed  which  has  been  sown  for  so  many  years  the  '  wild 
boars  '  have  '  rooted  up  ' ;  the  fierce,  unclean,  brutish,  blasphem- 
ous Antinomians  have  utterly  destroyed  it.  And  the  mystic 
foxes  have  taken  true  pains  to  spoil  what  remained,  with  their 
new  gospel.     Yet  it  seems   God  has  a  blessing  for  this  place 


1  The  Sermon   Register   gives   a   few       29,  Bristol;  March  21,  Freshford  ;  and 
dates  in  March  as   follows  :  March   16,       March  25  and  30,  Kingswood. 
West    Street ;    March    20,    22,   24  and  '*  Cf.  above,  p.  80. 


April  1755.] 


In  the  Midlands  109 


still  ;  so  many  still  attend  the  preaching,  and  He  is  eminently 
present  with  the  small  number  that  is  left  in  the  society. 

Sat.  5. —  I  preached  at  Wednesbury,  and  at  eight  on  Sunday 
morning.  But  the  great  congregation  assembled  in  the  after- 
noon, as  soon  as  the  service  of  the  church  was  over,  with  which 
we  take  care  never  to  interfere.  A  solemn  awe  seemed  to  run 
all  through  the  company  in  the  evening,  when  I  met  the  society. 
We  have  indeed  preached  the  gospel  here  '  with  much  con- 
tention,' but  the  success  overpays  the  labour. 

Mom.  7. — I  was  advised  to  take  the  Derbyshire  road  to 
Manchester.  We  baited  at  a  house  six  miles  beyond  Lich- 
field.1 Observing  a  woman  sitting  in  the  kitchen,  I  asked,  '  Are 
you  not  well  ? '  and  found  she  had  just  been  taken  ill  (being  on 
her  journey),  with  all  the  symptoms  of  an  approaching  pleurisy. 
She  was  glad  to  hear  of  an  easy,  cheap,  and  (almost)  infallible 
remedy — a  handful  of  nettles,  boiled  a  few  minutes,  and  applied 
warm  to  the  side.  While  I  was  speaking  to  her  an  elderly  man, 
pretty  well  dressed,  came  in.  Upon  inquiry,  he  told  us  he  was 
travelling,  as  he  could,  towards  his  home  near  Hounslow,  in 
hopes  of  agreeing  with  his  creditors,  to  whom  he  had  surrendered 
his  all.  But  how  to  get  on  he  knew  not,  as  he  had  no  money, 
and  had  caught  a  tertian  ague.  I  hope  a  wise  Providence 
directed  this  wanderer  also,  that  he  might  have  a  remedy  for 
both  his  maladies. 

Soon  after  we  took  horse  we  overtook  a  poor  man  creeping 
forward  on  two  crutches.  I  asked  whither  he  was  going.  He 
said  toward  Nottingham,  where  his  wife  lived.  But  both  his 
legs  had  been  broke  while  he  was  on  shipboard,  and  he  had  now 
spent  all  his  money.  This  man  likewise  appeared  exceeding 
thankful,  and  ready  to  acknowledge  the  hand  of  God. 

In  the  afternoon  we  came  to  Barton  Forge,  where  a  gentle- 
man of  Birmingham  had  set  up  a  large  iron-work,  and  fixed 
five  or  six  families,  with  a  serious  man  over  them,  who  lost  near 
all  he  had  in  the  great  riot  at  Wednesbury.  Most  of  them  are 
seeking  to  save  their  souls.  I  preached  in  the  evening,  not  to 
them  only,  but  to  many  gathered  from  all  parts,  and  exhorted 
them  to  love  and  help  one  another. 


1  Alrewas  seems   to    fulfil   all  the  conditions.     It  is  en  route  to  Barton-under- 
Needwood  and  Hayfield. 


1 1  o  John   Wesley  s  Journal  fApru  1755. 

Tues.  8. — I  had  designed  to  go  straight  on  to  Hayfield  ;  but 
one  from  Ashbourne  l  pressed  me  much  to  call  there,  which 
accordingly  I  did  at  seven  in  the  morning,  and  preached  to 
a  deeply  serious  congregation.  Seventeen  or  eighteen  then 
desired  to  join  in  a  society,  to  whom  I  spoke  severally,  and  was 
well  pleased  to  find  that  near  half  of  them  knew  the  pardoning 
love  of  God.  One  of  the  first  I  spoke  to  was  Miss  [Judith] 
Beresford — a  sweet,  but  short-lived  flower  !  2 

Through  much  hail,  rain,  and  wind  we  got  to  Mr.  B[addiley]'s,3 
at  Hayfield,  about  five  in  the  afternoon.  His  favourite  daughter 
died  some  hours  before  we  came,  such  a  child  as  is  scarce 
heard  of  in  a  century.  All  the  family  informed  me  of  many 
remarkable  circumstances,  which  else  would  have  seemed 
incredible.  She  spake  exceeding  plain,  yet  very  seldom  ;  and 
then  only  a  few  words.  She  was  scarce  ever  seen  to  laugh,  or 
heard  to  utter  a  light  or  trifling  word.  She  could  not  bear  any 
that  did,  nor  any  one  who  behaved  in  a  light  or  unserious 
manner.  If  any  such  offered  to  kiss  or  touch  her,  she  would 
turn  away,  and  say,  '  I  don't  like  you.'  If  her  brother  or  sisters 
spoke  angrily  to  each  other,  or  behaved  triflingly,  she  either 
sharply  reproved  (when  that  seemed  needful)  or  tenderly 
entreated  them  to  give  over.  If  she  had  spoke  too  sharply  to 
any,  she  would  humble  herself  to  them,  and  not  rest  till  they 
had  forgiven  her.     After  her  health  declined  she  was  particularly 


1  Thomas  Hanby,  afterwards  a  of  a  child  who,  protesting  against  the 
preacher,  tells  an  interesting  story  of  defiant  dancing  in  his  father's  alehouse, 
the  beginnings  of  Methodism  at  or  near  lost  his  life  (vol.  ii.  p.  195,  196).  In  a 
Ashbourne,  in  Thomas  Thompson's  toll-  letter,  dated  '  Chinley,  Oct.  22,  1748,' 
house,  where  Miss  Beresford  was  con-  John  Bennet  tells  Wesley  of  Mr.  Baddiley's 
verted,  and  at  Mr.  Hurd's,  a  gentleman  conversion  :  '  The  minister  of  Hayfield, 
farmer's.  Ashbourne  is  near  the  head  of  a  church  town  within  two  miles  of  my 
Dovedale.  See  Meth.  Rec.  Jan.  29,  1903  ;  father's,  is  lately  converted,  and  preaches 
cf.  Meth.  Mag.  1805,  p.  97 ;  also  pp.  600  the  pure  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.  The 
and  606.  town  is  up  in  arms  against  him  already, 

2  See  fully  below,  p.  204  ;  also  Wesley's  breathing  out  slaughter.  Notwithstand- 
lettcr  to  II.  A.  Roe  {Works,  vol.  xiii.  ing  he  is  as  bold  as  a  lion.'  After  reading 
p.  75.).  the   first    volume  of   Wesley's  sermons, 

*  Mr.     Baddiley    is    described    as    '  a  weighing  their   '  orthodoxy  by  the  stan- 

sort  of  second  Grimshaw.'     See  Works,  dard     of     Primitive    Christianity,'     he 

vol.    xiii.  p.    209.      Tyerman   quotes  a  writes    warmly    approving,    and    John 

manuscript  letter  from  Baddiley  to  Wes-  Bennet   copies   his    letter    {Meth.    Rec. 

ley,   in   which   he    tells   a    tragic   story  Winter  No.  1902,  p.  30). 


Apm  1755.]  Manchester  and  Liverpool  m 

pleased  with  hearing  that  hymn  sung,  '  Abba,  Father,'  and 
would  be  frequently  singing  that  line  herself : 

Abba,  Father,  hear  my  cry  ! 

On  Monday,  April  7,  without  any  struggle,  she  fell  asleep, 
having  lived  two  years  and  six  months.1 

Wed.  9. — In  the  evening  I  preached  at  Manchester.2  The 
mob  was  tolerably  quiet  as  long  as  I  was  speaking,  but  imme- 
diately after  raged  horribly.  This,  I  find,  has  been  their 
manner  for  some  time.  No  wonder,  since  the  good  Justices 
encourage  them.3 

Thur.  10. — I  rode  to  Hayfield  again,  to  bury  Mr.  B[addiley]'s 
child.  Abundance  of  people  were  gathered  together,  and  I 
found  uncommon  liberty  in  preaching.  Who  would  have 
looked  for  such  a  congregation  as  this  in  the  Peak  of  Derby- 
shire ? 

I  returned  to  Manchester  the  next  day,  and  had  a  quiet 
congregation  both  that  evening  and  the  following. 

Sun.  13. — I  met  the  society  at  five,  and  showed  them 
wherein  I  feared  they  had  grieved  the  Spirit  of  God,  and 
provoked  Him  to  deliver  them  to  be  thus  outraged  by  '  the 
beasts  of  the  people.'  I  then  rode  to  Hayfield  once  more, 
where  Mr.  B[addiley]  read  prayers,  and  preached  a  solemn  and 
affecting  sermon  relative  to  the  late  providence.  In  the  after- 
noon I  again  found  great  liberty  of  spirit  in  applying  those 
awful  words,  '  What  is  a  man  profited,  if  he  shall  gain  the  whole 
world,  and  lose  his  own  soul  ?  ' 

Mon.  14. — I  rode  by  Manchester  (where  I  preached  about 
twelve)  to  Warrington.4  At  six  in  the  morning,  Tuesday  the 
15th,  I  preached  to  a  large  and  serious  congregation,  and  then 
went  on  to  Liverpool,5  one  of  the  neatest,  best-built  towns  I  have 
seen  in  England.     I  think  it  is  full   twice  as  large  as  Chester  ; 


1  These  two  lines  omitted  in  1st  ed.  3  1st  ed.  gives  '  the  Justice  encourages.' 

2  He  wrote  to  Blackwell  respecting  *  See  W.H.S.  vol.  viii.  pp.  57  and  81  for 
his  proof-sheets  which  he  wished  to  send  articles  on  Wesley's  visits  to  Warrington, 
to  Mr.  Belchier  {Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  182).  5  When  Wesley  was  a  boy  the  popula- 
Mr.  Perronet  also  was  helping  him  with  tion  of  Liverpool  was  about  8,000.  At 
proof-reading.  Tyerman  says  these  were  the  time  of  this  visit  it  was  18,500.  Like 
the  proofs  of  the  Notes  on  the  New  Bristol,  it  was  largely  indebted  for  its 
Testament.  initial  prosperity  to  the  slave-trade, 


1 1 2  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [APru  ms. 

most  of  the  streets  are  quite  straight.  Two-thirds  of  the  town, 
we  are  informed,  have  been  added  within  these  forty  years. 
If  it  continue  to  increase  in  the  same  proportion,  in  forty  years 
more  it  will  nearly  equal  Bristol.1  The  people  in  general  are 
the  most  mild  and  courteous  I  ever  saw  in  a  seaport  town  ;  as 
indeed  appears  by  their  friendly  behaviour,  not  only  to  the 
Jews  and  Papists  who  live  among  them,  but  even  to  the 
Methodists  (so  called).  The  preaching-house  is  a  little  larger 
than  that  at  Newcastle.  It  was  thoroughly  filled  at  seven  in 
the  evening,  and  the  hearts  of  the  whole  congregation  seemed 
to  be  moved  before  the  Lord,  and  before  the  presence  of  His 
power.2 

Every  morning,  as  well  as  evening,  abundance  of  people 
gladly  attended  the  preaching.  Many  of  them,  I  learned,  were 
dear  lovers  of  controversy ;  but  I  had  better  work.  I  pressed 
upon  them  all  'repentance  toward  God,  and  faith  in  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.' 

Sun.  20. — I  explained,  after  the  evening  preaching,  the 
rules  of  the  society,  and  strongly  exhorted  the  members  to 
adorn  their  profession  by  all  holiness  of  conversation. 

Mon.  21. — I  rode  to  Bolton.  Being  now  among  those  who 
were  no  '  strangers  to  the  covenant  of  promise,'  I  had  no  need 
to  lay  the  foundation  again,  but  exhorted  them  to  '  rejoice  ever- 
more.' Their  number  is  a  little  reduced  since  I  was  here 
before  ;  and  no  wonder,  while  the  sons  of  strife  are  on  every 

side — some  for  Mr.  Bennet,  and  some  for  Mr.  Wh .3      The 

little  flock,  notwithstanding,  hold  on  their  way,  looking  straight 
to  the  prize  of  their  high  calling. 

Thur.  24. — We  rode  in  less  than  four  hours  the  eight  miles 
(so  called)  to  New  Hall  Hey.4  Just  as  I  began  to  preach,  the 
sun  broke  out,  and  shone  exceeding  hot  on  the  side  of  my  head. 
I  found,  if  it  continued,  I  should  not  be  able  to  speak  long,  and 
lifted  up  my  heart  to  God.  In  a  minute  or  two  it  was  covered 
with  clouds,  which  continued  till  the  service  was  over.  Let  any 
who  please  call  this  cfiance  ;  I  call  it  an  answer  to  prayer. 

1  For  early  Methodism  in  Liverpool,  3  The  reference  is  probably  to  White- 
see  W.H.S.  vol.  i.  p.  104.  field,  or  possibly  Wheatley. 

2  For  the  first  society-room  in  Cable  4  He   lodged   with   Mr.   Robert   Cun- 
Street,  and  for  Pitt  Street  Chapel,  &c,  liffe  (Meth.  in  Rossendale,  p.  84). 

see   Tyerman's    Wesley,  vol.  ii.  p.    197. 


Apru  1755.]  In   Yorkshire 


Fri.  25. — About  ten  I  preached  near  Todmorden.1  The 
people  stood,  row  above  row,  on  the  side  of  the  mountain. 
They  were  rough  enough  in  outward  appearance ;  but  their 
hearts  were  as  melting  wax. 

One  can  hardly  conceive  anything  more  delightful  than  the 
vale  through  which  we  rode  from  hence.  The  river  ran  through 
the  green  meadows  on  the  right ;  the  fruitful  hills  and  woods 
rose  on  either  hand.  Yet  here  and  there  a  rock  hung  over, 
the  little  holes  of  which  put  me  in  mind  of  those  beautiful 
lines  : 

Te,  Domine,  intonsi  montes,  te  saxa  loquentur 
Summa  Deum,  dum  montis  amat  juga  pendulus  hircus, 
Saxorumque  colit  latebrosa  cuniculus  antra ! 2 

At  three  in  the  afternoon  I  preached  at  Heptonstall,  on  the 
brow  of  the  mountain.  The  rain  began  almost  as  soon  as  I 
began  to  speak.  I  prayed  that,  if  God  saw  best,  it  might 
be  stayed  till  I  had  delivered  His  word.  It  was  so,  and  then 
began  again.     But  we  had  only  a  short  stage  to  Ewood.3 

Sat.  26. — I  preached  at  seven  to  a  large  and  serious  con- 
gregation, and  again  at  four  in  the  afternoon.  When  I  began, 
in  a  meadow  near  the  house,  the  wind  was  so  high  I  could 
hardly  speak.  But  the  winds  too  are  in  God's  hand  ;  in  a  few 
minutes  that  inconvenience  ceased,  and  we  found  the  Spirit  of 
God  breathing  in  the  midst  of  us,  so  that  great  was  our 
rejoicing  in  the  Lord. 

Sun.  27. — A  little  before  I  took  horse  I  looked  into  a  room 
as  I  walked  by,  and  saw  a  good  old  man  bleeding  almost  to 
death.     I  desired  him  immediately  to  snuff  vinegar  up  his  nose, 


1  At  Mankinholes  (see  Meth.  Rec.  of  Psalm  civ.  by  Dr.  John  Burton, 
April  18,  1912).  The  'delightful  vale'  Wesley's  friend  (see  above,  vol.  i.  p.  28), 
of  the  next  paragraph  is  the  Halifax  who  introduced  him  to  Oglethorpe. 
Road  Valley.  Intonsi    montes    is    a    reminiscence     of 

2  "Thee,  O  Lord,  the  leafy  mountains,  Virgil's  Ed.  v.  63.  The  lines  are 
Thee,  the  highest  rocks,  speak  [the  idea  repeated  below,  April  1786,  where  he 
suggested  is  that  of  rustling  mountain  attributes  them  to  Dr.  Burton.  Cf. 
woods]  as  God,  whilst  the  poised  wild  W.H.S.  vol.  v.  p.  29. 

goat  loves  the  mountain  ridges,  and  the  3  Then  in  possession  of  Mr.  Grim- 
coney  hides  in  the  coverts  of  the  cliffs —  shaw's  son  (J.  U.  Walker's  Methodism  in 
the  caverns.'     This  is  from  a  paraphrase  Halifax,  p.  93). 


H4  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [MayrzcB. 

and  apply  it  to  his  neck,  face,  and  temples.  It  was  done,  and 
the  blood  entirely  stopped  in  less  than  two  minutes. 

The  rain  began  about  five,  and  did  not  intermit  till  we  came 
to  Haworth  ;  notwithstanding  which  a  multitude  of  people 
were  gathered  together  at  ten.  In  the  afternoon  I  was  obliged 
to  go  out  of  the  church,  abundance  of  people  not  being  able  to 
get  in.  The  rain  ceased  from  the  moment  I  came  out  till  I 
had  finished  my  discourse.  How  many  proofs  must  we  have 
that  there  is  no  petition  too  little,  any  more  than  too  great,  for 
God  to  grant? 

Mon.  28. — I  preached  at  Keighley,  on  Tuesday  x  at  Bradford, 
which  is  now  as  quiet  as  Birstall.  Such  a  change  has  God 
wrought  in  the  hearts  of  the  people  since  John  Nelson  was  in 
the  dungeon  here.  My  brother  met  me  at  Birstall  in  the 
afternoon.2 

Wed.  30. — We  began  reading  together  A  Gentleman's 
Reasons  for  his  Dissent  from  the  Church  of  England?  It  is  an 
elaborate  and  lively  tract,  and  contains  the  strength  of  the 
cause ;  but  it  did  not  yield  us  one  proof  that  it  is  lawful  for  us 
(much  less  our  duty)  to  separate  from  it. 

May  1,  Thnr. — I  finished  the  Gentleman  s  Reasons  (who  is 
a  dissenting  minister  at  Exeter).  In  how  different  a  spirit  does 
this  man  write  from  honest  Richard  Baxter  !  The  one  dipping, 
as  it  were,  his  pen  in  tears,  the  other  in  vinegar  and  gall. 
Surely  one  page  of  that  loving,  serious  Christian  weighs  more 
than  volumes  of  this  bitter,  sarcastic  jester.4 

Sun.  4. —  I  preached  at  one,  and  again  at  five,  to  some 
thousands  at  the  foot  of  the  hill.  I  believe  this  hollow  would 
contain  sixty  thousand  people,  standing  one  above  another  ; 
and  a  clear,  strong  voice  might  command  them  all.     Although, 


1  On  April  29  he  wrote  to  Blackwell  3  Written  by  Micaiah  Towgood  in  the 
{Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  182),  and  preached  form  of  three  letters  to  John  White,  B.D., 
at  Birstall.  Fellow  of  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge, 

2  C.  Wesley,  in  a  letter  to  his  wife,  and  vicar  of  Ospringe,  near  Faversham, 
refers  to  this  meeting,  adding  '  I  pity  his  who  wrote  a  defence  of  the  Established 
poor  wife,  if  now  upon  the  road.  There  Church.  Towgood's  book  was  published 
she  is  likely  to  stick  till  the  warm  in  1746.  See  Green's  Bibliography,  p. 
weather  comes.  The  roads  are  almost  107  ;  also  below,  p.  247. 
impassable  for  wheels  '  (C.  Wesley's  '  On  May  2  he  preached  at  Halifax, 
Journal,  vol.  ii.  p.  201).  and  on  Monday  the  5th  at  Leeds. 


May  1755.]  The   Tzvelfth  Conference  1 1 5 

if  they  stood  upon  a  plain,  I  doubt  whether  any  human  voice 
could  be  distinctly  heard  by  half  the  number. 

Tues.  6. — Our  Conference  began  at  Leeds.1  The  point  on 
which  we  desired  all  the  preachers  to  speak  their  minds  at  large 
was,  '  Whether  we  ought  to  separate  from  the  Church  ? '  What- 
ever was  advanced  on  one  side  or  the  other  was  seriously  and 
calmly  considered  ;  and  on  the  third  day  we  were  all  fully 
agreed  in  that  general  conclusion — that  (whether  it  was  lawful 
or  not)  it  was  no  ways  expedient? 

Mo?i.  12. — We  rode  (my  wife  and  I)  to  Northallerton. 

Tues.  13. — I  rode  on  to  Newcastle.  I  did  not  find  things 
here  in  the  order  I  expected.  Many  were  on  the  point  of 
leaving  the  Church,  which  some  had  done  already ;  and,  as 
they  supposed,  on  my  authority  !  Oh  how  much  discord  is 
caused  by  one  jarring  string  !  How  much  trouble  by  one  man 
who  does  not  walk  by  the  same  rule  and  agree  in  the  same 
judgement  with  his  brethren  ! 

Sun.  18  (being  Whit  Sunday). —  I  preached  about  eight  at 
Gateshead  Fell,  and  returned  before  the  service  at  St.  Andrew's 
began.  At  the  sacrament  many  found  an  uncommon  blessing, 
and  felt  God  has  not  yet  left  the  Church. 

In  the  following  week  I  spake  to  the  members  of  the  society 


1  The  Twelfth  Conference, the  Minutes  and    Mr.   Crook,    perpetual    curate     of 

of  which  are  said  to  be  '  in  the  hand-  Hunslet,   exchanged    visits.     The   latter 

writing  of  John  Jones,'  apparently  from  had  preached  two  sermons  in  the  Leeds 

notes   taken   by  John    Wesley    {Octavo  parish   church   which    Wesley    strongly 

Minutes,     vol.    i.    p.    708).     This   was  approved.      They  were  afterwards  pub- 

the  largest  Conference  yet  held.     Sixty-  lished.     He   was   attacked,  bitterly  and 

three    preachers    were    present — twelve  with  misrepresentation  of  facts,  by  Sedge- 

'  half    itinerants,'     fifteen     '  our    chief  wick,  master  of  the  Grammar  School,  in 

local      preachers.'       Wesley's      address  The  Leeds   Intelligencer.     In  a  spirited 

delivered    at    the     close    of    the    Con-  reply  he  incidentally   gives   information 

ference    has    been    preserved — a     most  of      interest      (see      W.H.S.      vol.     ii. 

trenchant    pastoral.      Tyerman   gives    a  pp.  1 1 5-18).     The  Conference  was  held 

long    account     of    the     discussion    and  in  the  '  Boggard  House,'  Wesley  living 

correspondence      respecting     separation  for  the  week  in  the  Preachers'  House  in 

from  the  Church,  with  many  of  Charles  '  Boggard  Close.'  See  also  Henry  Moore's 

Wesley's  letters,  vol.  ii.  pp.  200-11  ;  see  Life  of   Wesley,   vol.   ii.  pp.    194,    195. 

also  Charles  Wesley's  letter  to  his  wife  The  Sermon  Register  gives  an  appoint- 

(Journal,    vol.    ii.    No.    xxxiv.)  ;    John  ment  at  Manchester  also  on  May  6  (!)  and 

Wesley    to    Charles    ( Works,    vol.    xii.  at  Birstall  on  the  10th. 
pp.    1 16-18),  and  below,  June  6,   1755.  2  On   May    10   he  wrote    to    Samuel 

During    this    visit    to     Leeds     Wesley  Furly  {Christian  Advocate^  1907,  p.  487). 


1 1 6  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [May  1766 

severally,  and  found  far  fewer  than  I  expected  prejudiced 
against  the  Church  ;  I  think  not  above  forty  in  all.  And  I 
trust  the  plague  is  now  stayed. 

Wed.  21. — I  preached  at  Nafferton,  near  Horsley,  about 
thirteen  miles  from  Newcastle.  We  rode  chiefly  on  the  new 
western  road,  which  lies  on  the  old  Roman  wall.  Some  part  of 
this  is  still  to  be  seen,  as  are  the  remains  of  most  of  the  towers, 
which  were  built  a  mile  distant  from  each  other,  quite  from  sea 
to  sea.  But  where  are  the  men  of  renown  who  built  them,  and 
who  once  made  all  the  land  tremble  ?  Crumbled  into  dust ! 
Gone  hence,  to  be  no  more  seen,  till  the  earth  shall  give  up  her 
dead  ! 

Thur.  22. — Mr.  Wardrobe,1  minister  of  Bathgate,  in  Scot- 
land, preached  at  the  Orphan  House  in  the  evening,  to  the 
no  small  amazement  and  displeasure  of  some  of  his  zealous 
countrymen. 

Sat.  24. — I  preached  at  Sheephill.  The  cold  drove  us  into 
the  house  ;  which  being  much  crowded,  was  as  hot  as  an  oven. 
Riding  afterwards  in  the  keen  north  wind,  it  seized  upon  my 
breast  immediately.  However,  I  made  a  shift  to  preach  at 
Chester 2 ;  and  then  went  on  to  Sunderland. 

Sun.  25. — I  preached  at  eight,  though  not  without  pain,  not 
having  recovered  my  voice.  We  had  a  useful  sermon  at  church. 
As  soon  as  the  sacrament  was  over  I  preached  in  the  High  Street 
(it  being  Trinity  Sunday),  upon  '  There  are  three  that  bear 
record  in  heaven  '  ;  and  my  voice  was  so  restored  that  I  could 
command  the  whole  congregation,  though  it  was  exceeding  large. 

Mon.  26. — I  rode  to  Morpeth,  and  preached  in  the  market- 
place to  a  small  but  quiet  congregation.  In  the  evening  I 
preached  in  the  new  room  at  Alnwick  ;  but  I  could  scarce  be 
heard,  my  voice  being  very  weak.  In  the  morning  it  was 
stronger ;  so  I  preached  with  more  ease  at  five,  and  then 
returned  to  Newcastle.3 


1  Whitehead   (Life  of  Wesley,  vol.   i.  that   the   true   name    should   be    lost — 
p.  285  «.)  gives  an  account  of  this  de-  Chester-on-the-Strate. 

voted  minister,  whom  Wesley  so  greatly  3  On  Monday,  May  26,  he  preached 

admired.  See  a  letter  of  his  in  Arm.  Mag.  before  leaving  Sunderland.    During  May 

1 778,  p.  375,  inviting  Wesley  to  Hexham  he  preached,  on  a  day  not  specified,  at 

in  1746.  For  his  death  see  below,  p.  164.  Seacroft  in  Yorkshire. 

2  Chester-le-Street.     It  is  unfortunate 


June  1755.]  A  Strange  Phenomenon  1 1 7 

Thur.  29. — I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  Mr.  Gillies,1  from 
Glasgow.  He  preached  for  me  in  the  evening,  to  the  still 
greater  astonishment  of  the  warm  men,  who  '  could  never  have 
thought  it  of  him  ! '  Shall  we  not  have  more  and  more  cause 
to  say — 

Names,  and  sects,  and  parties  fall; 

Thou,  0  Christ,  art  all  in  all? 

Fri.  30. — I  walked  to  the  Infirmary.  It  is  finely  situated  on 
the  top  of  the  hill,  and  is  the  best  ordered  of  any  place  of  the 
kind  I  have  seen  in  England.  Nor  did  I  ever  see  so  much 
seriousness  in  a  hospital  before.  None  were  laughing  or 
talking  lightly  ;  many  were  reading  the  Bible ;  and  when  I 
talked  to  and  prayed  with  one,  the  whole  ward  listened  with 
deep  attention. 

June  2,  Mon. — I  left  Newcastle,  and  came  to  Durham, 
just  as  Jacob  Rowell  had  done  preaching,  or  rather,  attempting 
to  preach  ;  for  the  mob  was  so  noisy  that  he  was  constrained  to 
break  off.  I  reached  Osmotherley  in  the  evening,  and  found  a 
large  congregation  waiting.  I  preached  immediately,  God 
renewing  my  strength  and  comforting  my  heart.2 

Here  I  inquired,  of  eye  and  ear  witnesses,  concerning  what 
lately  occurred  in  the  neighbourhood.3 

On  Tuesday,  March  25  last,  being  the  week  before  Easter,  many 
persons  observed  a  great  noise  near  a  ridge  of  mountains  in  Yorkshire, 
called  Black  Hamilton.  It  was  observed  chiefly  in  the  south-west  side 
of  the  mountain,  about  a  mile  from  the  course  where  the  Hamilton 
races  are  run  ;  near  a  ridge  of  rocks,  commonly  called  Whiston  Cliffs,  or 
Whiston-White-Mare  ;  two  miles  from  Sutton,  about  five  from  Thirsk. 

The  same  noise  was  heard  on  Wednesday  by  all  who  went  that 
way.  On  Thursday,  about  seven  in  the  morning,  Edward  Abbot, 
weaver,  and  Adam  Bosomworth,  bleacher,  both  of  Sutton,  riding  under 
Whiston  Cliffs,  heard  a  roaring  (so  they  termed  it),  like  many  cannons, 
or  loud  and  rolling  thunder.  It  seemed  to  come  from  the  cliffs,  looking 
up  to  which  they  saw  a  large  body  of  stone,  four  or  five  yards  broad, 


1  Cf.  above,  p.  62.  3  See    IV.  M.  Mag.   1843,    pp.  206-8. 

2  The  Osmotherley  society  book  re-  Wesley  contributed  this  account  to  the 
cords,  '  Laid  out  for  Mr.  John  Wesley,  London  Mag.,  Gentleman's  Mag.,  The 
wife    and    daughter,     Mr.     Shent,    and  Public  Advertiser,  and  Scots  Mag. 

Mr.  Downes,  5-r.' 


1 1 8  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [June  1755. 

split  and  fly  off  from  the  very  top  of  the  rocks.  They  thought  it 
strange,  but  rode  on.  Between  ten  and  eleven  a  larger  piece  of  the 
rock,  about  fifteen  yards  thick,  thirty  high,  and  between  sixty  and 
seventy  broad,  was  torn  off  and  thrown  into  the  valley. 

About  seven  in  the  evening,  one  who  was  riding  by  observed  the 
ground  to  shake  exceedingly,  and  soon  after  several  large  stones  or 
rocks,  of  some  tons  weight  each,  rose  out  of  the  ground.  Others  were 
thrown  on  one  side,  others  turned  upside  down,  and  many  rolled  over 
and  over.  Being  a  little  surprised,  and  not  very  curious,  he  hasted  on 
his  way. 

On  Friday  and  Saturday  the  ground  continued  to  shake  and  the 
rocks  to  roll  over  one  another.  The  earth  also  clave  asunder  in  very 
many  places,  and  continued  so  to  do  till  Sunday  morning. 

Being  at  Osmotherley,  seven  miles  from  the  cliffs,  on  Monday, 
June  2,  and  finding  Edward  Abbot  there,  I  desired  him,  the  next 
morning,  to  show  me  the  way  thither.  I  walked,  crept,  and  climbed, 
round  and  over  great  part  of  the  ruins.  I  could  not  perceive,  by  any 
sign,  that  there  was  ever  any  cavity  in  the  rock  at  all ;  but  one  part  of  the 
solid  stone  is  cleft  from  the  rest,  in  a  perpendicular  line,  and  smooth, 
as  if  cut  with  instruments.  Nor  is  it  barely  thrown  down,  but  split  into 
many  hundred  pieces,  some  of  which  lie  four  or  five  hundred  yards 
from  the  main  rock. 

The  ground  nearest  the  cliff  is  not  raised,  but  sunk  considerably 
beneath  the  level ;  but  at  some  distance  it  is  raised  in  a  ridge  of  eight 
or  ten  yards  high,  twelve  or  fifteen  broad,  and  near  a  hundred  long. 
Adjoining  to  this  lies  an  oval  piece  of  ground,  thirty  or  forty  yards  in 
diameter,  which  has  been  removed,  whole  as  it  is,  from  beneath  the 
cliff,  without  the  least  fissure,  with  all  its  load  of  rocks,  some  of  which 
were  as  large  as  the  hull  of  a  small  ship.  At  a  little  distance  is  a 
second  piece  of  ground,  forty  or  fifty  yards  across,  which  has  been  also 
transplanted  entire,  with  rocks  of  various  sizes  upon  it,  and  a  tree 
growing  out  of  one  of  them.  By  the  removal  of  one  or  both  of  these, 
I  suppose,  the  hollow  near  the  cliff  was  made. 

All  round  them  lay  stones  and  rocks,  great  and  small  ;  some  on  the 
surface  of  the  earth,  some  half  sunk  into  it,  some  almost  covered,  in 
a  variety  of  positions.  Between  these  the  ground  was  cleft  asunder  in  a 
thousand  places  :  some  of  the  apertures  were  nearly  closed  again,  some 
gaping  as  at  first.  Between  thirty  and  forty  acres  of  land,  as  is 
commonly  supposed  (though  some  reckon  above  sixty),  are  in  this 
condition. 

On  the  skirts  of  these  I  observed,  in  abundance  of  places,  the  green 
turf  (for  it  was  pasture  land),  as  it  were  pared  off,  two  or  three  inches 
thick,  and  wrapped  round  like  sheets  of  lead.  A  little  farther  it  was 
not  cleft  or  broken  at  all,   but  raised  in  ridges  five  or  six  foot  long, 


June  1755.]  A  Strange  Phenomenon  1 1 9 

exactly  resembling  the  graves  in  a  churchyard.  Of  these  there  is  a  vast 
number. 

That  part  of  the  cliff  from  which  the  rest  is  torn  lies  so  high  and  is 
now  of  so  bright  a  colour  that  it  is  plainly  visible  to  all  the  country 
round,  even  at  the  distance  of  several  miles.  We  saw  it  distinctly  not 
only  from  the  street  in  Thirsk,  but  for  five  or  six  miles,  as  we  rode 
towards  York.  So  we  did  likewise  in  the  Great  North  Road,  between 
Sandhutton  and  Northallerton. 

But  how  may  we  account  for  this  phenomenon  ?  Was  it  effected  by 
a  merely  natural  cause  ?  If  so,  that  cause  must  either  have  been  fire, 
water,  or  air.  It  could  not  be  fire  ;  for  then  some  mark  of  it  must  have 
appeared,  either  at  the  time,  or  after  it.  But  ho  such  mark  does 
appear,  nor  ever  did ;  not  so  much  as  the  least  smoke,  either  when  the 
first  or  second  rock  was  removed,  or  in  the  whole  space  between 
Tuesday  and  Sunday. 

It  could  not  be  water ;  for  no  water  issued  out  when  the  one  or  the 
other  rock  was  torn  off,  nor  had  there  been  any  ;rains  some  time 
before.  It  was,  in  that  part  of  the  country,  a  remarkably  dry  season. 
Neither  was  there  any  cavity  in  that  part  of  the  rock  wherein  a 
sufficient  quantity  of  water  might  have  lodged.  On  the  contrary,  it  was 
one  single,  solid  mass,  which  was  evenly  and  smoothly  cleft  in 
sunder. 

There  remains  no  other  natural  cause  assignable,  but  imprisoned 
air.  I  say  imprisoned ;  for,  as  to  the  fashionable  opinion  that  the 
exterior  air  is  the  grand  agent  in  earthquakes,  it  is  so  senseless,  un- 
mechanical,  unphilosophical  a  dream  as  deserves  not  to  be  named  but 
to  be  exploded.  But  it  is  hard  to  conceive  how  even  imprisoned  air 
could  produce  such  an  effect.  It  might,  indeed,  shake,  tear,  raise,  or 
sink  the  earth  ;  but  how  could  it  cleave  a  solid  rock  ?  Here  was  not 
room  for  a  quantity  of  it  sufficient  to  do  anything  of  this  nature ;  at 
least,  unless  it  had  been  suddenly  and  violently  expanded  by  fire,  which 
was  not  the  case.  Could  a  small  quantity  of  air,  without  that  violent 
expansion,  have  torn  so  large  a  body  of  rock  from  the  rest  to  which  it 
adhered  in  one  solid  mass  ?  Could  it  have  shivered  this  into  pieces, 
and  scattered  several  of  those  pieces  some  hundred  yards  round  ? 
Could  it  have  transported  those  promontories  of  earth,  with  their 
incumbent  load,  and  set  them  down,  unbroken,  unchanged,  at  a 
distance  ?  Truly  I  am  not  so  great  a  volunteer  in  faith  as  to  be  able 
to  believe  this.  He  that  supposes  this  must  suppose  air  to  be  not  only 
a  very  strong  (which  we  allow)  but  a  very  wise  agent ;  while  it  bore  its 
charge  with  so  great  caution  as  not  to  hurt  or  dislocate  any  part  of  it. 

What,  then,  could  be  the  cause  ?  What,  indeed,  but  God,  who 
arose  to  shake  terribly  the  earth  ;  who  purposely  chose  such  a  place, 
where  there  is  so  great  a  concourse  of  nobility  and  gentry  every  year ; 


1 20  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [June  1755. 

and  wrought  in  such  a  manner  that  many  might  see  it  and  fear ;  that 
all  who  travel  one  of  the  most  frequented  roads  in  England  might  see 
it,  almost  whether  they  would  or  no,  for  many  miles  together.1  It  must 
likewise  for  many  years,  maugre  all  the  art  of  man,  be  a  visible  monu- 
ment of  His  power,  all  that  ground  being  now  so  encumbered  with 
rocks  and  stones  that  it  cannot  be  either  ploughed  or  grazed.  Nor 
will  it  serve  any  use  but  to  tell  all  that  see  it,  '  Who  can  stand  before 
this  great  God  ? ' 

Hence  we  rode  to  Thirsk,  where  I  met  the  little  society,  and 
then  went  on  to  York.  The  people  had  been  waiting  for  some 
time,  so  I  began  preaching  without  delay,  and  felt  no  want  of 
strength,  though  the  room 2  was  like  an  oven  through  the 
multitude  of  people. 

Fri.  6. — I  read  Dr.  Sharp's3  elaborate  tracts  on  the  Rubrics 
and  Canons.  He  justly  observes,  with  regard  to  all  these  :  (1) 
that  our  governors  have  power  to  dispense  with  our  observance 
of  them  ;  (2)  that  a  tacit  dispensation  is  of  the  same  force  with 
an  explicit  dispensation  ;  (3)  that  their  continued  connivance  at 
what  they  cannot  but  know  is  a  tacit  dispensation.  I  think  this 
is  true  ;  but,  if  it  be,  he  has  himself  answered  his  own  charge 
against  the  Methodists  (so  called).  For,  suppose  the  Canons 
did  forbid  field-preaching,  as  expressly  as  playing  at  cards  and 
frequenting  taverns,  yet  we  have  the  very  same  plea  for  the 
former  as  any  clergyman  has  for  the  latter.  All  our  governors, 
the  king,  the  archbishop,  and  bishops,  connive  at  the  one  as 
well  as  the  other. 

Sat.  7. — One  of  the  residentiaries  sent  for  Mr.  Williamson, 
who  had  invited  me  to  preach  in  his  church,  and  told  him,  '  Sir, 
I  abhor  persecution,  but  if  you  let  Mr.  Wesley  preach  it  will 
be  the  worse  for  you.'    He  desired  it,  nevertheless  ;  but  I  declined.4 


1  VVhiston  Cliff  was  a  noted  place  for  man's  Life,  vol.  ii.  p.  213;   W.M.  Mag. 

training  and   matching   racehorses.     An  1843,  P-    2°6  '>   also   Works,  vol.  xi.,   in 

anonymous    writer    in    The  Gentleman' s  Thoughts  on  the  Earthquake  at  Lisbon.) 
Mag.,  professedly   after   inquiry,  denied  *  This  was  the  room  in  Pump  Yard, 

the  facts  in  toto.    Wesley  replied  March  8,  Newgate.     It  held  120  persons,  and  was 

1756,  reaffirming  the  facts  as  '  punctually  registered  for  public  worship  {Methodism 

true,  having  been  an  eye-witness  of  every  in  York,  pp.  80,  81). 
particular  of  it.'    John  Langhorne,  then  3  Archdeacon     of      Northumberland, 

a  private  tutor  near  Thirsk,  afterwards  See  W.H.S.  vol.  iv.  p.  108. 
translator  of  Plutarch's  Lives,  wrote  fully  4  Charles  Wesley  preached  there  twice 

confirming  Wesley's  statements.     (Tyer-  in  October  1756. 


June  1765.)  Fro?n   York  to  Sheffield  1 2 1 


Perhaps  there  is  a  providence  in  this  also.  God  will  not  suffer 
my  little  remaining  strength  to  be  spent  on  those  who  will  not 
hear  me  but  in  an  honourable  way. 

Sun.  8. — We  were  at  the  Minster  in  the  morning,  and  at 
our  parish  church  in  the  afternoon.  The  same  gentleman 
preached  at  both  ;  but  though  I  saw  him  at  the  church,  I  did  not 
know  I  had  ever  seen  him  before.  In  the  morning  he  was  all 
life  and  motion,  in  the  afternoon  he  was  as  quiet  as  a  post.  At 
five  in  the  evening  the  rain  constrained  me  to  preach  in  the 
'oven'  again.  The  patience  of  the  congregation  surprised  me. 
They  seemed  not  to  feel  the  extreme  heat,  nor  to  be  offended  at 
the  close  application  of  those  words,  '  Thou  art  not  far  from  the 
kingdom  of  God.' ' 

Mon.  9. — I  took  my  leave  of  the  richest  society,  number  for 
number,  which  we  have  in  England.  I  hope  this  place  will  not 
prove  (as  Cork  has  for  some  time  done)  the  Capua 2  of  our 
preachers.  When  I  came  to  Epworth  the  congregation  was 
waiting.  So  I  went  immediately  to  the  Cross,  and  great  was 
our  glorying  in  the  Lord. 

Tues,  10. — I  met  the  stewards  of  the  Lincolnshire  societies, 
who  gave  us  an  agreeable  account  of  the  work  of  God  in 
every  place. 

Wed.  11. —  I  preached  in  a  meadow  at  Misterton  to  a  larger 
congregation  than  ever  met  there  before. 

Thur.  12. — At  eight  I  preached  at  Clay  worth,  and  at 
Rotherham  in  the  evening.  Here  likewise  was  such  a  number 
of  people  assembled  as  was  never  before  seen  in  that  town. 
Is  not  this  one  clear  proof  of  the  hand  of  God  that,  although 
the  novelty  of  this  preaching  is  over,  yet  the  people  flock  to  hear 
it  in  every  place  far  more  than  when  it  was  a  new  thing  ? 

Fri.   13. — In  the  evening  I   preached  at  Sheffield.3     In   the 


1  See  Arm.  Mag.  1779,  p.  319  :  letter  On  p.  641,  letter  from  Walker  to  Wesley, 
from  Rev.  John  Baddiley,  rector  of  Hay-  'Truro,  Aug.  16,  1756  '  :  '  Advices  con- 
field,  Derbyshire,  to  J.  W.  re  the  Separa-  cerning  the  Church.'  Wesley's  reply, 
tion  debates  at  'your  last  Conference  in  'Kingswood,  Sept.  3,  1756,'  p.  644. 
Leeds.'  On  p.  368,  John  Wesley  to  -  For  same  allusion  see  below,  p.  332. 
Walker  of  Truro,  dated  Bristol,  Sept.  24,  3  Sheffield  was  part  of  the  Epworth 
'  Difficulties  with  regard  to  the  Church.'  Circuit  until  August  1757.  It  included 
On  p.  371,  Thos.  Adams  (Wintringham,  also  Gainsborough,  Grimsby,  Barrow, 
Oct.  10, 1755): 'On  leaving  the  Church  '  ;  Doncaster,  Rotherham,  'and  divers 
reply  to  this  (Lond.  Oct.  31,  1755)  p. 373.  other  circuits.' 

VOL.    IV  8 


122  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [June  i766. 

morning  I  examined  the  members  of  the  society,  and  was 
agreeably  surprised  to  find  that  though  none  had  visited  them 
since  I  did  it  myself  two  years  ago,  yet  they  were  rather 
increased  than  diminished  in  number,  and  many  of  them 
growing  in   grace.1 

Mon.  1 6. — I  preached  in  the  evening  at  Nottingham,2  and 
on  Thursday  afternoon  reached  London.  From  a  deep  sense 
of  the  amazing  work  which  God  has  of  late  years  wrought  in 
England,  I  preached  in  the  evening  on  those  words  (Ps.  cxlvii.  20), 
'  He  hath  not  dealt  so  with  any  nation ' ;  no,  not  even  with 
Scotland  or  New  England.  In  both  these  God  has  indeed  made 
bare  His  arm,  yet  not  in  so  astonishing  a  manner  as  among  us. 
This  must  appear  to  all  who  impartially  consider  (1)  the 
numbers  of  persons  on  whom  God  has  wrought  ;  (2)  the  swift- 
ness of  His  work  in  many,  both  convinced  and  truly  converted 
in  a  few  days  ;  (3)  the  depth  of  it  in  most  of  these,  changing 
the  heart  as  well  as  the  whole  conversation  ;  (4)  the  clearness  of 
it,  enabling  them  boldly  to  say,  '  Thou  hast  loved  me  ;  Thou  hast 
given  Thyself  for  me ' ;  (5)  the  continuance  of  it.  God  has 
wrought  in  Scotland  and  New  England,  at  several  times,  for 
some  weeks  or  months  together  ;  but  among  us  He  has  wrought 
for  near  eighteen  years  together,  without  any  observable  inter- 
mission. Above  all,  let  it  be  remarked  that  a  considerable 
number  of  the  regular  clergy  were  engaged  in  that  great  work 
in  Scotland ;  and  in  New  England  above  a  hundred,  perhaps 
as  eminent  as  any  in  the  whole  province,  not  only  for  piety,  but 
also  for  abilities,  both  natural  and  acquired  ;  whereas  in  England 
there  were  only  two  or  three  inconsiderable  clergymen,  with  a 
few  young,  raw,  unlettered  men  ;  and  these  opposed  by  well- 
nigh  all  the  clergy,  as  well  as  laity,  in  the  nation.  He  that 
remarks  this  must  needs  own,  both  that  this  is  a  work  of  God 
and  that  He  hath  not  wrought  so  in  any  other  nation.3 


'  On   Friday  the    13th    he   preached  tingham '  in  Hutton's  Memoirs,  p.  231. 
again  at  Rotherham,  and  on  the  14th  at  s  On  Thursday,  June  19,  he  preached 

Barley  Hall  as  well  as  Sheffield.  at  West  Street.     On  the  20th  he  wrote 

2  Harwood's     History     of    Wesleyan  from  London  to  Charles  Wesley  ( Works, 

Methodism  in  Nottingham   (pp.    8-43),  vol.  xii.  p.  1 16),  still  on  the  burning  ques- 

describes  the  sequence   of  events  which  tion  of  Separation.     On  Sunday  the  22nd 

rooted  Methodism   here.      Cf.    '  Howe's  he  again  preached  at  West  Street. 
Society,'  p.  13,  with  'John   How,  Not- 


July  1765.] 


In  Norwich  123 


Mon.  23. — I  was  considering  what  could  be  the  reasons  why 
the  hand  of  the  Lord  (who  does  nothing  without  a  cause)  is 
almost  entirely  stayed  in  Scotland,  and  in  great  measure  in  New 
England.  It  does  not  become  us  to  judge  peremptorily,  but 
perhaps  some  of  them  may  be  these  :  (1)  Many  of  them  became 
'  wise  in  their  own  eyes '  ;  they  seemed  to  think  they  were  the 
men,  and  there  were  none  like  them.  And  hence  they  refused 
God  the  liberty  of  sending  by  whom  He  would  send,  and 
required  Him  to  work  by  men  of  learning,  or  not  at  all.  (2) 
Many  of  them  were  bigots,  immoderately  attached  either  to 
their  own  opinions  or  mode  of  worship.  Mr.  Edwards  himself 
was  not  clear  of  this.  But  the  Scotch  bigots  were  beyond  all 
others,  placing  Arminianism  (so  called)  on  a  level  with  Deism, 
and  the  Church  of  England  with  that  of  Rome.  Hence  they 
not  only  suffered  in  themselves  and  their  brethren  a  bitter  zeal, 
but  applauded  themselves  therein,  in  showing  the  same  spirit 
against  all  who  differed  from  them  as  the  Papists  did  against 
our  forefathers.  (3)  With  pride,  bitterness,  and  bigotry,  self- 
indulgence  was  joined  ;  self-denial  was  little  taught  and  practised. 
It  is  well  if  some  of  them  did  not  despise,  or  even  condemn,  all 
self-denial  in  things  indifferent,  as  in  apparel  or  food,  as  nearly 
allied  to  Popery.  No  marvel,  then,  that  the  Spirit  of  God  was 
grieved.     Let  us  profit  by  their  example. 

Tues.  24. — Observing  in  that  valuable  book,  Mr.  Gillies's 
Historical  Collections}  the  custom  of  Christian  congregations  in 
all  ages  to  set  apart  seasons  of  solemn  thanksgivings,  I  was 
amazed  and  ashamed  that  we  had  never  done  this,  after  all  the 
blessings  we  had  received,  and  many  to  whom  I  mentioned  it 
gladly  agreed  to  set  apart  a  day  for  that  purpose.2 

Mon.  30. — I  set  out  for  Norwich,  and  came  thither  the  next 
evening.  As  a  large  congregation  was  waiting,  I  could  not  but 
preach,  though  weary  enough.3  The  two  following  days  I  spoke 
to  each  member  of  the  society  ;  and  on  Friday,  JULY  4,  took 


1  See    above,    p.    62,    and     W.H.S.  of    Assurance.      See     Works,    vol.    xii. 
vol.  iv.  p.  108.  p.  466  ;  Tyerman,  vol.  ii.   p.   214.     On 

2  On  June  28  he  wrote  another  letter  the  same  day  (June  28)  and  on  Sunday 
confident  in  the  preachers'  loyalty  to  the  the  29th  he  preached  at  West  Street. 
Church,  to  Charles  Wesley  (  Works,  vol.  s  At  a  place  called  the  Foundery,  near 
xii.  p.  118);  also  one  (the  first  of  six)  to  Orford    Hill    (Lorkin's    Methodism    in 
Mr.  Richard  Tompson,  on  the  doctrine  Norwich,  p.  2). 


124  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [juiy  1755. 


horse  again,  though  how  I  should  ride  five  miles  I  knew  not. 
But  God  so  strengthened  both  man  and  beast  that  I  reached 
Bury  the  same  night,  and  London  the  next,  far  less  tired  than 
when  I  set  out  from  Norwich.1 

Monday  the  7th  was  our  first  day  of  solemn  thanksgiving  for 
the  numberless  spiritual  blessings  we  have  received.  And  I 
believe  it  was  a  day  which  will  not  soon  be  forgotten.2 

Thur.  17. — One  spent  the  evening  with  us  who  is  accounted 
both  a  sensible  and  a  religious  man.  What  a  proof  of  the  Fall  ! 
Even  with  all  the  advantages  of  a  liberal  education,  this  person, 
I  will  be  bold  to  say,  knows  just  as  much  of  heart  religion,  of 
scriptural  Christianity,  the  religion  of  love,  as  a  child  three 
years  old  of  algebra.  How  much,  then,  may  we  suppose  a 
Turk  or  heathen  to  know?  Hardly  more  ;  perhaps  just  as  much.3 
Tues.  22. — To  oblige  a  friendly  gentlewoman,  I  was  a  witness 
to  her  will,  wherein  she  bequeathed  part  of  her  estate  to  charit- 
able uses  and  part,  during  his  natural  life,  to  her  dog  Toby.  I 
suppose,  though  she  should  die  within  the  year,  her  legacy  to 
Toby  may  stand  good,  but  that  to  the  poor  is  null  and  void  by 
the  statute  of  Mortmain  ! 4 

Sun.  27? — I  buried  the  body  of  Ephraim  B[edder],6  once 
a  pattern  to  all  that  believed  ;  but,  from  the  time  he  left  off 
fasting  and  universal  self-denial,  in  which  none  was  more 
exemplary  for  some  years,  he  sunk  lower  and  lower,  till  he 
had  neither  the  power  nor  the  form  of  religion  left.  In  the 
beginning  of  his  illness  he  was  in  black  despair.  But  much 
prayer  was  made  for  him.  Toward  the  close  of  it  it  pleased 
God  to  restore  to  him   the  li«ht  of  His  countenance.     So,   I 


'  On  July  4  he  preached  at  Bury  St.  donor  ...  to   be   enrolled   within  .  .   . 

Edmunds,   and  on   Saturday  the  5th  at  six  months  after  execution.' 

Bishop  Bonner's.  The  term  '  charitable  uses '  is  applic- 

2  On  Thursday  the  10th  he  preached  able  only  to  gifts  for  what  are  called 
at  Bishop  Bonner's,  and  on  Sunday  the  public  charities,  the  objects  of  which  are 
13th  at  Moorfields.  not  particular  individuals,  but  a  class  or 

3  On  Monday  the  21st  he  preached  at  the  public  in  general. 

West  Street  and  Wapping.  s  On  July  25  he  wrote  the  second  letter 

4  So  not  very  correctly,  though  com-  to  Richard  Tompson  (Works,  vol.  xii. 
monly,  called  9  Geo.  II.  c.  36:  'No  p.  467),  noting  'concessions'  in  the 
sums  of  money  .  .  .  shall  be  given  .  .  .  Minutes  with  regard  to  '  assurance '  and 
in   trust   for   any    charitable   uses    ...  '  perfection.' 

unless     by    deed  .  .  .  twelve     calendar  6  See  above,  p.  48 
months  at  least  before  the  death  of  such 


July  1755.]  A  Letter  from    Virginia  1 2  5 

trust,  his  backsliding  only  cost  him  his  life,  and  he  may  yet  live 
with  God  for  ever.1 

I  was  much  affected  about  this  time  by  a  letter  sent  from  a 
gentleman  in  Virginia.2     Part  of  it  runs  thus  : 

The  poor  negro  slaves  here  never  heard  of  Jesus,  or  His  religion, 
till  they  arrived  at  the  land  of  their  slavery  in  America,  whom  their 
masters  generally  neglect,  as  though  immortality  was  not  the  privilege 
of  their  souls  in  common  with  their  own.  These  poor  Africans  are  the 
principal  objects  of  my  compassion,  and,  I  think,  the  most  proper 
subject  of  your  charity. 

The  inhabitants  of  Virginia  are  computed  to  be  about  three  hundred 
thousand,  and  the  one  half  of  them  are  supposed  to  be  negroes.  The 
number  of  these  who  attend  on  my  ministry  at  particular  times  is 
uncertain,  but  I  think  there  are  about  three  hundred  who  give  a  stated 
attendance.  And  never  have  I  been  so  much  struck  with  the  appear- 
ance of  an  assembly  as  when  I  have  glanced  my  eye  on  one  part  of  the 
house,  adorned  (so  it  has  appeared  to  me)  with  so  many  black  coun- 
tenances, eagerly  attentive  to  every  word  they  heard,  and  some  of  them 
covered  with  tears.  A  considerable  number  of  them,  about  a  hundred, 
have  been  baptized,  after  they  had  been  fully  instructed  in  the  great 
truths  of  religion,  and  had  evidenced  their  sense  of  them  by  a  life  of 
the  strictest  virtue.  As  they  are  not  sufficiently  polished  to  dissemble 
with  a  good  grace,  they  express  the  sensations  of  their  hearts  so  much  in 
the  language  of  simple  nature,  and  with  such  genuine  indications  of 
artless 3  sincerity,  that  it  is  impossible  to  suspect  their  professions, 
especially  when  attended  with  a  suitable  behaviour. 

Mr.  Todd,  minister  of  the  next  congregation,  has  near  the  same 
number  under  his  care,  and  several  of  them  also,  he  informs  me,  dis- 
cover the  same  seriousness.  Indeed,  there  are  multitudes  of  them  in 
various  parts  who  are  eagerly  desirous  of  instruction.  They  have 
generally  very  little  help  to  read ;  and  yet,  to  my  agreeable  surprise, 
sundry  of  them,  by  dint  of  application  in  their  very  few  leisure  hours, 
have  made  such  a  progress  that  they  are  able  to  read  their  Bible,  or  a 
plain  author,  very  intelligibly.  But  few  of  their  masters  will  be  at  the 
expense  of  furnishing  them  with  books.  I  have  supplied  them  to  the 
utmost  of  my  ability.  They  are  exceedingly  delighted  with  Watts's 
Songs,  and  I  cannot  but  observe  that  the  negroes,  above  all  of  the 
human  species  I  ever  knew,  have  the  nicest  ear  for  music.     They  have 


1  On  Saturday,  Aug.  2,   he  preached       Virginia).     See  below,  for  other  letters, 
at  West  Street.  pp.  149,  194. 

2  Rev.  Samuel  Davies,  of  Hanover  (in  3  1st  ed.  'earth-less.' 


126  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [Aug.  1755. 

a  kind  of  ecstatic  delight  in  psalmody  ;  nor  are  there  any  books  they  so 
soon  learn,  or  take  so  much  pleasure  in,  as  those  used  in  that  heavenly 
part  of  divine  worship. 

Aug.  3,  Sun. — I  dined  with  one  who  lived  for  many  years 
with  one  of  the  most  celebrated  beauties  in  Europe.  She  was 
also  proud,  vain,  and  nice  to  a  very  uncommon  degree.  But  see 
the  end  !  After  a  painful  and  nauseous  disease,  she  rotted  away 
above  ground,  and  was  so  offensive  for  many  days  before  she 
died  that  scarce  any  could  bear  to  stay  in  the  room. 

Mon.  4. — Hearing  my  old   friend   Mr.   H s  was  now  a 

beggar,  and  forsaken  of  all,  I  called  (after  a  separation  of  sixteen 
years)  at  his  lodgings  to  offer  him  any  service  in  my  power.  I 
was  pleasingly  surprised  to  find  him  reading  the  Bible  !  But 
still  I  am  afraid  all  is  not  right,  for  the  hand  of  God  seems  to  be 
upon  him  still,  and  his  mind  is  so  hurried  he  can  settle  to 
nothing.  Oh  what  a  pattern  of  holiness  and  stability  of  mind 
was  this  very  man  till  he  was  stolen  away  by  the  men  whose 
'  words  are  smoother  than  oil ' !  But  were  they  not  to  him  very 
swords  ? x 

Wed.  6. — I  mentioned  to  the  congregation  another  means  of 
increasing  serious  religion,  which  had  been  frequently  practised 
by  our  forefathers  and  attended  with  eminent  blessing,  namely, 
the  joining  in  a  covenant  to  serve  God  with  all  our  heart 2  and 
with  all  our  soul.  I  explained  this  for  several  mornings  follow- 
ing, and  on  Friday  many  of  us  kept  a  fast  unto  the  Lord, 
beseeching  Him  to  give  us  wisdom  and  strength  to  promise  unto 
the  Lord  our  God  and  keep  it.3 

Mon.  11. — I  explained  once  more  the  nature  of  such  an 
engagement,  and  the  manner  of  doing  it  acceptably  to  God. 
At  six  in  the  evening  we  met  for  that  purpose  at  the  French 
church  in  Spitalfields.  After  I  had  recited  the  tenor  of  the 
covenant  proposed,  in  the  words  of  that  blessed  man,  Richard 
Alleine,  all  the  people  stood  up,  in  testimony  of  assent,  to  the 
number  of  about  eighteen  hundred  persons.  Such  a  night  I 
scarce  ever  saw  before.  Surely  the  fruit  of  it  shall  remain 
for  ever. 


1  On  Monday,  Aug.  4,  he  preached  at  3  On   Thursday,  Aug.  7,  he  preached 
West  Street,  and  on  the  5th  at  Deptford.       at  Bishop  Bonner's,  and  on  Sunday  the 

2  1st  ed.  '  with  all  our  soul '  only.  10th  in  Moorfields. 


1.  BONNER'S    HALL,    'NEAR    HACKNEY  '     (sec    PAGE     IOl) 

2.  ZOAR    CHAPEL,    SOUTH  WARK     (SCC    PAGE     I40). 


127 


Aug.  1765.) 


In  Cornwall  129 


Sat.  16. — I  buried  the  remains  of  a  rough,  honest,  friendly 
man,  Captain  Edward  Stotesbury.1  But  the  lion  was  become  a 
lamb  before  God  took  him  to  Himself. 

Sun.  1 7. — I  took  leave  of  the  congregation  in  Moorfields  by 
applying  those  awful  words,  '  It  is  appointed  for  men  once  to 
die,'  and  early  in  the  morning  set  out  for  Cornwall.  In  the 
evening  I  preached  to  a  sleepy  congregation  at  Reading  on 
'  It  is  a  fearful  thing  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  living  God,' 
and  to  much  such  another  on  Tuesday  evening  at  Salisbury  on 
1  Harden  not  your  hearts.' 

On  Wednesday  the  20th,  at  noon,  I  preached  at  Shaftesbury 
to  a  much  more  lively  people.  In  the  afternoon  both  my  fellow 
traveller  and  I  were  fairly  worn  out.  We  betook  ourselves  to 
prayer,  and  received  strength.  Nor  did  we  faint  any  more  till, 
on  Friday  the  22nd,  we  reached  Plymouth  Dock.  And  I  found 
myself  far  less  weary  then  than  on  Monday,  when  I  came  to 
Colebrook. 

Having  spent  two  days  comfortably,  and  I  hope  usefully,  on 
Monday  the  25th  I  rode  over  the  mountains,  close  by  the  sea,  to 
Looe,  a  town  near  half  as  large  as  Islington,  which  sends  four 
Members  to  the  Parliament !  And  each  county  in  North  Wales 
sends  one  !  At  Fowey  a  little  company  met  us,  and  conducted 
us  to  Luxulyan.2  Between  six  and  seven  I  preached  in  what 
was  once  the  courtyard  of  a  rich  and  honourable  man  ;  but  he 
and  all  his  family  are  in  the  dust,  and  his  very  memory  is  almost 
perished.  The  congregation  was  large  and  deeply  serious  ;  but 
it  was  still  larger  on  Tuesday  evening,  and  several  seemed  to  be 
cut  to  the  heart.  On  Wednesday  they  flocked  from  all  parts. 
And  with  what  eagerness  did  they  receive  the  word  !  Surely 
many  of  these  last  will  be  first. 

Thur.  28. — I  preached  at  St.  Mewan.  I  do  not  remember 
ever  to  have  seen  the  yard  in  which  I  stood  quite  full  before, 
but  it  would    not    now  contain    the    congregation  :  many  were 


1  Charles  Wesley,  Thursday,  June  7,  at  Newington  that  provided  a  quiet  re- 

1750,  wrote  :  '  I  carried  Sally  to  see  our  treat  for  Wesley  when  he   had  literary 

old  friends  at  Newington  Green.     It  is  work  on  hand  ?    Charles  Wesley  wrote  an 

remarkable    that    the    first     time    Mrs.  elegy  on  Mrs.  Stotesbury  when  she  died, 

Stotesbury  ever  saw  her  she  said  within  March  17,  1759  :  '  Friendly,  faithful  soul, 

herself,  "  That  person  is  to  be  my  minis-  adieu  '  (C.  Wesley'sjournal,vol.ii.  p.  352). 
ter's  wife."  '     Is  this  the  unnamed  family  2  See  below,  p.  240. 


1 30  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Aug.  1755 

obliged  to  stand  without  the  gate.  At  five  in  the  morning  I 
preached  at  St.  Austell x  to  more  than  our  room  could  contain. 
In  the  evening  I  was  at  St.  Ewe.  One  or  two  felt  the  edge 
of  God's  sword  and  sank  to  the  ground,  and  indeed  it  seemed 
as  if  God  would  suffer  none  to  escape  Him — as  if  he  both  heard 
and  answered  our  prayer  : 

Dart  into  all  the  melting  flame 

Of  love,  and  make  the  mountains  flow. 

Sat.  30. — As  I  was  riding  through  Truro  one  stopped  my 
horse  and  insisted  on  my  alighting.  Presently  two  or  three 
more  of  Mr.  Walker's2  society  came  in,  and  we  seemed  to 
have  been  acquainted  with  each  other  many  years ;  but  I  was 
constrained  to  break  from  them.  About  five  I  found  the  con- 
gregation waiting  in  a  broad,  convenient  part  of  the  street  in 
Redruth.  I  was  extremely  weary,  and  our  friends  were  so 
glad  to  see  me  that  none  once  thought  of  asking  me  to  eat 
or  drink  ;  but  my  weariness  vanished  when  I  began  to  speak. 
Surely  God  is  in  this  place  also. 

Sun.  31. — Understanding  there  were  many  present  who  did 
once  run  well,  I  preached  at  eight  (the  rain  ceasing  just  in 
time)  on  '  How  shall  I  give  thee  up,  Ephraim  ? '  Many  en- 
deavoured, but  in  vain,  to  hide  their  tears.  I  was  agreeably 
surprised  at  church  to  hear  the  prayers  read,  not  only  with 
deliberation,  but  with  uncommon  propriety.  At  one  the  con- 
gregation was  nearly  double  to  what  it  was  in  the  morning, 
and  all  were  still  as  night.  Surely  these  are  patient  hearers. 
God  grant  they  may  be  fruitful  ones  ! 

At  five  I  preached  in  Gwennap  to  several  thousands,  but 
not  one  of  them  light  or  inattentive.  After  I  had  done  the 
storm  arose,  and  the  rain  poured  down  till  about  four  in  the 


1  Richard  Vercoe  was  one  of  the  first  there,  and  preached  from  his  doorstep, 

members  of  society  in  this  place.     He  See  also  Meth.  Kec.  May  9,  191 2. 

had  preaching  and  prayer-meetings  in  his  -  Rev.  Samuel  Walker.     '  Evangelical 

house.     See  obituary  of  his  son  in  W.M.  opinions,    an    awakening   ministry,  and 

Mag.    1830,    p.    507.     Another   pioneer  great  ministerial  success.'      See   W.M. 

Methodist   was  Mr.    Flamank,   in   Fore  Mag.    1847,    p.    1099,    and     Tyerman's 

Street.      Wesley  was  always   his   guest  Wesley,  vol.  ii.  p.  207. 


Sept.  1755.] 


In  Cornwall 


I3i 


morning.  Then  the  sky  cleared,  and  many  of  them  that 
feared  God  gladly  assembled  before  Him.1 

Sept.  i,  Man. — I  preached  at  Penryn  to  abundantly  more 
than  the  house  could  contain. 

Tues.  2. — We  went  to  Falmouth.2  The  town  is  not  now 
what  it  was  ten  years  since.  All  is  quiet  from  one  end  to  the 
other.  I  had  thoughts  of  preaching  on  the  hill  near  the 
church,  but  the  violent  wind  made  it  impracticable,  so  I  was 
obliged  to  stay  in  our  own  room.  The  people  could  hear  in  the 
yard  likewise,  and  the  adjoining  houses,  and  all  were  deeply 
attentive. 

Wed,  3. — At  four  Mrs.  M.3  came  into  my  room,  all  in  tears, 
and  told  me  she  had  seen,  as  it  were,  our  Lord  standing  by 
her,  calling  her  by  her  name,  and  had  ever  since  been  filled 
with  joy  unspeakable.  Soon  after  came  her  sister,  in  almost 
the  same  condition,  and  afterwards  her  niece,  who  likewise 
quickly  melted  into  tears  and  refused  to  be  comforted.  Which 
of  these  will  endure  to  the  end  ?  Now,  at  least,  God  is  among 
them. 


1  The  following  brief  and  painfully 
graphic  letter,  -written  on  this  date  from 
Redruth,  shows  the  kind  of  irritations 
which,  coupled  with  jealousies,  were 
straining  to  breaking-point  the  relations 
between  two  persons  who  ought  never  to 
have  become  husband  and  wife. 

To  Mr.  Blackwell, 

In  Change  Alley, 
London. 

Redruth, 
Aug.  31,  1755- 
Dear  Sir, 

In  my  last  journey  to  the  North  [see 
Journal,  May  12],  all  my  patience  was  put  to 
the  proof  again  and  again,  and  all  my  endea- 
vours to  please,  yet  without  success.  In  my 
present  journey  I  leap  as  broke  from  chains. 
I  am  content  with  whatever  entertainment  I 
meet  with,  and  my  companions  are  always  in 
good  humour,  'because  they  are  with  me.' 
This  must  be  the  spirit  of  all  who  take 
journeys  with  me.  If  a  dinner  ill  drest,  a 
hard  bed,  a  poor  room,  a  shower  of  rain,  or 
a  dusty  road  will  put  them  out  of  humour,  it 
lays  a  burden  upon  me  greater  than  all  the 
rest  put  together.  By  the  grace  of  God  I 
never  fret.  I  repine  at  nothing.  1  am  dis- 
contented with  nothing.  And  to  hear  persons 
at  my  ear  fretting  and  murmuring  at  every- 
thing is  like  tearing  the  flesh  off  my  bones. 


I  see  God  sitting  upon  His  throne  and  ruling 
all  things  well.  Although,  therefore,  I  can 
bear  this  also,  to  have  His  government  of  the 
world  continually  found  fault  with— for  in 
blaming  the  things  which  He  alone  can  alter 
we  in  effect  blame  Him — yet  it  is  such  a 
burden  to  me  as  I  cannot  bear  without  pain, 
and  I  bless  God  when  it  is  removed.  The 
doctrine  of  a  particular  providence  is  what 
exceeding  few  persons  understand,  at  least 
not  practically,  so  as  to  apply  it  to  every  cir- 
cumstance of  life.  This  I  want,  to  see  God 
acting  in  everything,  and  disposing  all  for 
His  own  glory  and  His  creatures'  good.  I 
hope  it  is  your  continual  prayer  that  you  may- 
see  Him,  and  love  Him,  and  glorify  Him 
with  all  you  are  and  all  you  have.  Peace  be 
with  you  all ! 

Your  affectionate  Servant, 

J.  Wesley. 

-  '  Our  own  room '  at  Falmouth,  on 
Smithick  Hill.  The  society  removed 
later  to  Porhan  Street.  In  1791  a  new 
chapel  was  built.  The  present  chapel 
(1912)  is  on  the  same  site. 

3  See  above,  vol.  iii.  p.  190.  Mrs.  M. 
is  believed  to  have  been  Mrs.  Maddern, 
the  woman  in  Falmouth  who  received 
him  from  the  mob  into  her  house. 


132  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Sept.  1755 

After  preaching  again  to  a  congregation  who  now  appeared 
ready  to  devour  every  word,  I  walked  up  to  Pendennis  Castle, 
finely  situated  on  the  high  point  of  land  which  runs  out  between 
the  bay  and  the  harbour,  and  commanding  both.  It  might 
easily  be  made  exceeding  strong  ;  but  our  wooden  castles  are 
sufficient. 

In  the  afternoon  we  rode  to  Helston,  once  turbulent  enough, 
but  now  quiet  as  Penryn.  I  preached  at  six  on  a  rising  ground 
about  a  musket-shot  from  the  town.  Two  drunken  men  strove 
to  interrupt ;  but  one  soon  walked  away,  the  other  leaned  on  his 
horse's  neck  and  fell  fast  asleep. 

What  has  done  much  good  here  is  the  example  of  W 

T .     He  was  utterly  without  God    in    the  world  when  his 

father  died  and  left  him  a  little  estate,  encumbered  with  huge 
debt.  Seven  or  eight  years  ago  he  found  peace  with  God.  He 
afterwards  sold  his  estate,  paid  all  his  debts,  and  with  what  he 
had  left  furnished  a  little  shop.  Herein  God  has  blessed  him 
in  an  uncommon  manner.  Meantime  all  his  behaviour  is  of  a 
piece,  so  that  more  and  more  of  his  neighbours  say,  '  Well,  this 
is  a  work  of  God  ! ' 

Thur.  4. — In  the  evening  heavy  rain  began  just  as  I  began 
to  give  out  the  hymn,  but  it  ceased  before  I  named  my  text. 
I  spoke  very  plain,  and  it  seemed  to  sink  into  many  hearts,  as 
they  showed  by  attending  at  five  in  the  morning,  when  we  had 
another  happy  and  solemn  hour. 

About  noon,  Friday  the  5th,  I  called  on  W.  Rowe,  in  Breage, 
in  my  way  to  Newlyn.  '  Twelve  years  ago,'  he  said,  '  I  was 
going  over  Gulval  Downs,  and  I  saw  many  people  together,  and 
I  asked  what  was  the  matter,  and  they  told  me  a  man  was 
going  to  preach.  And  I  said,  "  To  be  sure  it  is  some  mazed 
man."  But  when  I  saw  you  I  said,  "  Nay,  this  is  no  mazed 
man."  And  you  preached  on  God's  raising  the  dry  bones,  and 
from  that  time  I  could  never  rest  till  God  was  pleased  to  breathe 
on  me  and  raise  my  dead  soul.' 

I  had  given  no  notice  of  preaching  here,  but,  seeing  the 
poor  people  flock  from  every  side,  I  could  not  send  them  empty 
away.  So  I  preached  at  a  small  distance  from  the  house,  and 
besought  them  to  consider  our  '  great  High-Priest,  who  is 
passed  through  into  the  heavens.'    And  none  opened  his  mouth, 


Sept.  1755.] 


In  Cornwall  133 


for  the  lions  of  Breage  too  are  now  changed  into  lambs.  That 
they  were  so  fierce  ten  years  ago  is  no  wonder,  since  their 
wretched  minister  told  them  from  the  pulpit  (seven  years 
before  I  resigned  my  fellowship)  that  '  John  Wesley  was 
expelled  the  College  for  a  base  child,  and  had  been  quite 
mazed  ever  since ;  that  all  the  Methodists,  at  their  private 
societies,  put  out  the  lights,'  &c,  with  abundance  more  of 
the  same  kind.  But  a  year  or  two  since  it  was  observed 
he  grew  thoughtful  and  melancholy,  and,  about  nine  months  ago, 
he  went  into  his  own  necessary  house — and  hanged  himself. 

When  we  came  to  Newlyn  we  were  informed  that  a  strong, 
healthy  man  was,  the  morning  before,  found  dead  in  his  bed. 
Many  were  startled,  so  I  endeavoured  to  deepen  the  impres- 
sion by  preaching  on  those  words,  '  There  is  no  work,  nor 
device,  nor  knowledge,  nor  wisdom  in  the  grave,  whither  thou 
goest.' 

Sat.  6. — In  the  evening  I  preached  at  St.  Just.  Except  at 
Gwennap,  I  have  seen  no  such  congregation  in  Cornwall.  The 
sun  (nor  could  we  contrive  it  otherwise)  shone  full  in  my  face 
when  I  began  the  hymn  ;  but  just  as  I  ended  it  a  cloud  arose, 
which  covered  it  till  I  had  done  preaching.  Is  anything  too 
small  for  the  providence  of  Him  by  whom  our  very  hairs  are 
numbered  ? 

Sun.  7. — Last  year  a  strange  letter,  written  at  Penzance,  was 
inserted  in  the  public  papers.1  To-day  I  spoke  to  the  two 
persons  who  occasioned  that  letter.  They  are  of  St.  Just 
parish,  sensible  men,  and  no  Methodists.  The  name  of  one 
is  James  Tregear,  of  the  other  Thomas  Sackerly.  I  received 
the  account  from  James  two  or  three  hours  before  Thomas 
came,  but  there  was  no  material  difference.  In  July  was 
twelvemonth,  they  both  said,  as  they  were  walking  from  St.  Just 
church-town  toward  Sancreed,  Thomas,  happening  to  look  up, 
cried  out, '  James,  look,  look  !  What  is  that  in  the  sky  ?  '  The 
first  appearance,  as  James  expressed  it,  was  three  large 
columns  of  horsemen,  swiftly  pressing  on,  as  in  a  fight,  from 
south-west  to  north-east,  a  broad  streak  of  sky  being  between 
each  column.  Sometimes  they  seemed  to  run  thick  together, 
then  to  thin  their  ranks.     Afterwards  they  saw  a  large  fleet  of 

'  See  Gentleman's  Mag.,  1754,  p.  482. 


134  John   Wesley  s  Journal  rsept.1755. 

three-mast  ships  in  full  sail  toward  the  Lizard  Point.  This 
continued  above  a  quarter  of  an  hour  ;  then,  all  disappearing, 
they  went  on  their  way.  The  meaning  of  this,  if  it  was  real 
(which  I  do  not  affirm),  time  only  can  show. 

I  preached  at  eight  in  the  morning  and  five  in  the  after- 
noon,1 and  then  hastened  to  St.  Ives  ;  but  we  did  not  reach 
it  till  between  nine  and  ten,  so  I  delayed  visiting  Mr.  K.2 
till  the  morning.  He  is  a  young  attorney  who  for  some  time 
past  frequently  attended  the  preaching.  On  Saturday  morn- 
ing he  fell  raving  mad.  I  never  saw  him  till  this  morning. 
He  sung,  and  swore,  and  screamed,  and  cursed,  and  blas- 
phemed as  if  possessed  by  legion  ;  but  as  soon  as  I  came  in 
he  called  me  by  my  name  and  began  to  speak.  I  sat  down 
on  the  bed,  and  he  was  still.  Soon  after  he  fell  into  tears 
and  prayer.  We  prayed  with  him,  and  left  him  calm  for  the 
present. 

Tues.  9. — I  desired  as  many  of  our  brethren  as  could  to 
observe  Wednesday  the  10th  as  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer. 
Just  as  we  were  praying  for  him  (we  were  afterwards  informed) 
he  left  off  raving,  and  broke  out,  '  Lord,  how  long  ?  Wilt  Thou 
hide  Thy  face  for  ever  ?  All  my  bones  are  broken.  Thy  wrath 
lieth  heavy  upon  me  :  I  am  in  the  lowest  darkness,  and  in  the 
deep.  But  the  Lord  will  hear :  He  will  rebuke  thee,  thou 
unclean  spirit :  He  will  deliver  me  out  of  thy  hands.'  Many 
such  expressions  he  uttered  for  about  half  an  hour,  and  then 
raved  again.3 

Thur.  11. — He  was  more  outrageous  than  ever,  but  while 
we  were  praying  for  him  in  the  evening  he  sunk  down  into 
a  sound   sleep,  which  continued    for    ten    hours  ;   nor   was   he 


1  At  Penzance.  hamshire,  and  died  in  1811.    Nearly  every 

2  We  can  hardly  doubt  that  this  is  prominent  man  in  St.  Ives  came  into  the 
John  Knill,  whose  'Pyramid,'  and  a  vortex  of  the  Methodist  movement, 
legacy  providing  for  annual  dancing  K[nill']s  madness  opened  Wesley's  way 
around  it.  are  so  well  known  in  St.  Ives.  into  his  uncle's,  the  mayor's,  family. 
He  was  born  in  1733,  and  would  at  this  See  letter  to  Blackwell,  Works,  vol. 
time  be  twenty-two.  He  was  articled  to  xii.  p.  1S4.  See  especially  J.  Hobson 
Robert  Kitchen,  of  Penzance,  solicitor,  MMhews's  M/s/ory  of  the  parishes  of  St. 
and  possibly  had  not,  in  1755,  left  this  Ives,  Lelant,  Towednack,  and  Zennor. 
office  for  London.  He  returned  to  St.  3  On  Wednesday  the  10th  Wesley 
Ives  as  agent  for  the  Earl  of  Bucking-  preached  at  Lelant. 


Sept.  1755.] 


In  Cornwall  135 


furious  any  more,  although  the  time  of  deliverance  was  not 
come.1 

Sat.  13. — I  preached  once  more  at  St.  Just,  on  the  first  stone 
of  their  new  society-house.2  In  the  evening,  as  we  rode  to 
Camborne,  John  Pearce  of  Redruth  was  mentioning  a  remark- 
able incident.  While  he  lived  at  Helston,  as  their  class  was 
meeting  one  evening,  one  of  them  cried,  with  an  uncommon  tone, 
'  We  will  not  stay  here,  we  will  go  to'  such  a  house,  which  was 
in  a  quite  different  part  of  the  town.  They  all  rose  immediately 
and  went,  though  neither  they  nor  she  knew  why.  Presently, 
after  they  were  gone,  a  spark  fell  into  a  barrel  of  gunpowder 
which  was  in  the  next  room,  and  blew  up  the  house.  So  did 
God  preserve  those  who  trusted  in  Him,  and  prevent  the 
blasphemy  of  the  multitude. 

Sun.  14. — I  preached  about  eight,  at  [Cam  Brea],  to  a  very 
numerous  congregation  ;  and  I  believe  God  spoke  to  the  hearts 
of  many — of  backsliders  in  particular.  Soon  after  ten  we  went 
to  Redruth  church.  A  young  gentlewoman  in  the  next  pew, 
who  had  been  laughing  and  talking  just  before,  while  the 
Confession  was  reading  seemed  very  uneasy,  then  screamed  out 
several  times,  dropped  down,  and  was  carried  out  of  church. 
Mr.  Collins3  read  prayers  admirably  well,  and  preached  an 
excellent  sermon  on  '  Christ  also  suffered,  leaving  us  an  example, 
that  ye  should  follow  His  steps.' 

At  one  I  preached  on  faith,  hope,  and  love.  I  was  surprised 
at  the  behaviour  of  the  whole  multitude.  At  length  God  seems 
to  be  moving  on  all  their  hearts.  About  five  I  preached  at 
St.  Agnes,  where  all  received  the  truth  in  love,  except  two  or 
three,  who  soon  walked  away.  Thence  I  rode  on  to  Cubert. 
At  noon  I  was  much  tired  ;  but  I  was  now  as  fresh  as  in  the 
morning. 

Man.   15. — We  walked   an  hour  near  the  sea-shore,  among 


1  On  Sept.  12  he  wrote  to  Blackwell  fell — 'it  contained  a  few  lines  which  I 

(  Works  ,vo\.\\\.-p.  i83),and  to  Christopher  had  writ  to  Mrs.  Lefevre,  in  answer  to  a 

Hopper  {Orphan  House,   p.  103).     The  letter,'  &c.  ;   and   'a  young  gentleman, 

Blackwell  letter  is  especially  interesting  nephew  to  the  present  mayor,'  who  was 

for   its  information  about  three  notable  the  Mr.  K[nill]  above-mentioned. 

persons,  namely :  Michael  Fenwick  ;  Mrs.  "  The  second  chapel,  40  ft.   by  28  ft. 

Wesley,  into  whose  hands  a  packet  in-  (IV.Af.  Mag.  1833,  p.  874.) 

tended  for  Charles  Perronet  accidentally  s  See  above,  vol.  iii.  p.  191. 


1 36  John   Wesley  s  Journal  tsept.  1755. 

those  amazing  caverns,  which  are  full  as  surprising  as  Poole's 
Hole,  or  ,any  other  in  the  Peak  of  Derbyshire.  Some  part  of 
the  rock  in  these  natural  vaults  glitters  as  bright  and  ruddy  as 
gold1;  part  is  a  fine  sky-blue;  part  green;  part  enamelled, 
exactly  like  mother-of-pearl ;  and  a  great  part,  especially  near 
the  Holy  Well 2  (which  bubbles  up  on  the  top  of  a  rock,  and 
is  famous  for  curing  either  scorbutic  or  scrofulous  disorders), 
is  crusted  over,  wherever  the  water  runs,  with  a  hard,  white  coat, 
like  alabaster. 

At  six  in  the  evening  I  preached  at  Port  Isaac.  The  next 
day  I  rode  to  Camelford,  and  preached  in  the  market-place 
about  six,  on  '  Ye  must  be  born  again.'  Some  were  much 
afraid  there  would  be  disturbance ;  but  the  whole  congregation 
was  quiet  and  attentive. 

Thur.  18. — Just  as  we  came  in  at  Launceston  the  heavy 
rain  began.  Between  five  and  six  I  preached  in  a  gentleman's 
dining-room,  capable  of  containing  some  hundreds  of  people. 
At  five  in  the  morning  I  preached  in  the  Town  Hall,  and  soon 
after  took  my  leave  of  Cornwall. 

Fri.  19. — In  the  evening  I  reached  North  Molton  ;  but, 
being  wet  and  tired,  and  the  people  not  having  notice,  I  did 
not  preach  till  the  next  morning.  A  few,  I  found,  stand 
steadfast  here  also,  though  a  neighbouring  gentleman  has 
threatened  them  much  unless  they  will  leave  this  way,  has 
turned  many  out  of  their  work  or  farms,  and  headed  the  mob 
in  person.3 

On  Saturday  evening  I  preached  at  Tiverton  to  a  well- 
established  people. 

Sun.  21. — I  rode  to  Cullompton,4  where  the  minister 
preached  an  excellent  practical  sermon.  At  one  I  preached 
on    the    parable  of   the  Sower,  and  about  five  in  the    market- 


1  Pope's  arbour  was  adorned  with  first  that  planted  the  gospel  in  this  place.' 
these  Cornish  stones.  4  The    ride    from    Tiverton  ;    church 

2  About  one  and  a  half  miles  north-  service  ;  preaching,  probably  out  of  doors, 
west  of  the  parish  church.  A  full  account  at  five  indoors  ;  meeting  the  society  ; 
of  this  famous  well  is  given  in  the  History  writing  a  long,  plain,  practical  letter 
of  Cornwall.  Borlase  also  mentions  the  which  seems  to  have  saved  a  faulty 
spar.  Southey  celebrates  another  Cornish  preacher,  John  Trembath  (  Works,  vol.  xii. 
Holy  Well,  that  of  St.  Keyne's.  p.     251)— compare    letter    written    five 

*  See  Charles  Wesley's  letter  (Journal,  years  later— this  was  a  fair  day's  work  for 

vol.  ii.  p.  221)  :  '  Mr.   Robarts  was  the  a  convalescent. 


Oct  1766.] 


In  the   West  137 


house  at  Tiverton.  The  congregation  was  larger  than  for 
some  years,  yet  all  behaved  as  though  they  really  desired  to 
save  their  souls. 

Mon.  22. —  It  rained  the  greater  part  of  the  day,  which 
lessened  the  congregation  at  Charlton. 

Tues.  23. — We  walked  up  to  Glastonbury  Tower,1  which  a 
gentleman  is  now  repairing.  It  is  the  steeple  of  a  church,  the 
foundation  of  which  is  still  discernible.  On  the  west  side  of  the 
tower  there  are  niches  for  images,  one  of  which,  as  big  as 
the  life,  is  still  entire.2  The  hill  on  which  it  stands  is  extremely 
steep,  and  of  an  uncommon  height  ;  so  that  it  commands  the 
country  on  all  sides,  as  well  as  the  Bristol  Channel.  I  was 
weary  enough  when  we  came  to  Bristol,3  but  I  preached  till 
all  my  complaints  were  gone,  and  I  had  now  a  little  leisure  to 
sit  still,  and  finish  4  the  Notes  on  the  New  Testament? 

OCT.  3,  Fri. — I  rode  over  to  Pill,  a  place  famous  from 
generation  to  generation,  even  as  Kingswood  itself,  for  stupid, 
brutal,  abandoned  wickedness.  But  what  is  all  the  power  of  the 
world  and  the  devil,  when  the  day  of  God's  power  is  come  ? 
Many  of  the  inhabitants  now  seem  desirous  of  turning  from  the 
power  of  Satan  to  God.6 

Sun.   5. — I   preached  on  the  south-west  side  of  Bristol.7     I 


1  On  the    top    of    Glastonbury   Tor,  task  soon  after  Sept.  23, 1755.  The  volume 

500  feet  high.  was  published  in  London  as  a  quarto  of 

=  St.   Michael  holding  in  his  hands  a  759  pages,  price  eighteen  shillings.    Five 

pair  of  scales.  editions  were  issued  during  Wesley's  life, 

1  Sept.   24,    Bristol,    letter    to    Rev.  with    corrections    and    additions.      The 

Mr.  Walker  (Works,    vol.  xiii.  p.   193),  Dr.    Heylyn   (not   the   more    celebrated 

on   the   question   of  separation,    clearly  Peter    Heylyn)    to    whose    Theological 

stating  the  arguments  for  it  urged  in  the  Lectures  he  acknowledges  indebtedness, 

Leeds  Conference,   his  own  difficulty  in  was   the   man   whom   Wesley  heard   in 

answering,  and  the  dilemma  as  to  per-  St.  Mary-le-Strand  on  Whit  Sunday,  1738, 

mining  or  appointing  lay  preachers.     As  and  whom  he  assisted  at  the  Holy  Com- 

to  the  doctrine  and  liturgy  of  the  Estab-  munion.       See  above,  vol.  i.  p.  463-4. 

lished  Church,  and  also  the  unlawfulness  5  On  Wednesday  the  24th  and  Thurs- 

of  separation,  he  has  no  doubt.     As  he  clay  the  25th  he  again  preached  in  Bristol, 

puts  it  to  Mr.  Adams  two  months  later :  During  September  he  preached  also  at 

'We  will  not  go  out  :  if  we  are  thrust  Crowan,  Coleford,  and  Kingswood. 

out,  well.'     The  series  of  letters — four  to  6  On  Saturday  the  4th  he  preached  in 

Mr.  Walker  and  one  to  Mr.  Adams — is  Bristol, 

worth  careful  study.  "'  Bedminster.     He  afterwards  specifies 

1  Wesley  began  his  Notts  on  the  Nnu  The  Green  and  the  Paddock  as  open-air 

Testament  Jan.  6,  1754,  and  finished  his  preaching-places. 


138  fohn    Wesley  s  Journal  [Oct.  ms. 

suppose  a  considerable  part  of  the  congregation  had  hardly 
ever  heard  a  sermon  in  the  open  air  before  ;  but  they  were  all 
(rich  and  poor)  serious  and  attentive.  No  rudeness  is  now  at 
Bristol. 

Tkur.  9.1 — I  preached  on  the  Green,  near  Pill,  to  a  large  and 
serious  congregation.  It  rained  most  of  the  time  ;  but  none 
went  away,  although  there  were  many  genteel  hearers.2 

Mon.  13. — I  preached,  about  noon,  at  Shepton  Mallet,  and 
in  the  evening  at  Ccleford,  where  the  congregation  is  so 
increased  that  they  must  enlarge  the  house.3 

Tues.  14. — About  one  I  preached  near  Bradford,  and  again 
in  the  evening. 

Wed.  15. — I  preached  at  Bath.  Even  here  a  few  are  joined 
together,  and  hope  they  shall  be  scattered  no  more.4 

I  dined  with  some  serious  persons  in  a  large,  stately  house 
standing  on  the  brow  of  a  delightful  hill.5  In  this  paradise 
they  live  in  ease,  in  honour,  and  in  elegant  abundance.  And 
this  they  call  retiring  from  the  world  !  What  would  Gregory 
Lopez  have  called  it  ? 

In  the  evening  the  society  met  at  Bristol.  I  had  desired 
again  and  again  that  no  person  would  come  who  had  not 
calmly  and  deliberately  resolved  to  give  himself  up  to  God. 
But  I  believe  not  ten  of  them  were  wanting,  and  we  now 
solemnly  and  of  set  purpose,  by  our  own  free  act  and  deed, 
jointly  agreed  to  take  the  Lord  for  our  God.  I  think  it  will  not 
soon  be  forgotten  ;  I  hope  not  to  all  eternity.6 

[Sun.  19. — I  preached  once  more  in  Stokes  Croft,  to  a  deeply 
serious  congregation.]  7 

Mon.  20. — I  left  Bristol,  and,  taking  several  societies  in  the 


1  On  Oct.  8  he  wrote  to  Christopher  Grove  of  Sept.  17-19,  1764.  In  Hunt's 
Hopper  [Orphan  House,  p.  104)  :  also  Life  0/ Warburton,  prefixed  to  Works,  vol. 
to  Paul  Greenwood  ( W.H.S.  vol.  vii.  i.  p.  50,  of  Prior  Park  Hunt  says :  '  In 
p.  20).  so  agreeable,  or  rather  splendid  a  retreat 

2  On  Friday  the  10th  he  preached  in  Warburton  enjoyed  health,  affluence,  and 
Bristol.  leisure ;   the    best    company    when    he 

3  See  above,  vol.  iii.  p.  161.  could  partake  of  it.' 

4  Oct.  16,  Bristol,  is  the  date  of  the  6  On  Friday  the  17th  he  preached  at 
PS.  to  the  Introd.  to  Primitive  Physick  Kingswood. 

(  Works,  vol.  xiv.  p.  316).  '  Insertion  from  1st  ed.     Why  omitted 

5  Certainly   Prior    Park,    not    Combe  in  later  editions  is  not  known. 


Nov.  1765  i 


London  and  Essex  139 


way,1  on  Thursday  the  23rd  preached  at  Reading.  Several 
soldiers  were  there,  and  many  more  the  next  night,  when  I  set 
before  them  '  the  terrors  of  the  Lord.'  And  I  scarce  ever  saw 
so  much  impression  made  on  this  dull,  senseless  people. 

Sat.  25. — I  reached  London,  notwithstanding  all  the 
forebodings  of  my  friends,  in  at  least  as  good  health  as  I 
left  it. 

Sun.  26. — I  entered  upon  my  London  duty,  reading  prayers, 
preaching,  and  giving  the  sacrament  at  Snowsfields  in  the 
morning  ;  preaching  and  giving  the  sacrament  at  noon  in  West 
Street  Chapel  ;  meeting  the  leaders  at  three ;  burying  a  corpse 
at  four ;  and  preaching  at  five  in  the  afternoon.  Afterwards  I 
met  the  society,  and  concluded  the  day  with  a  general 
lovefeast. 

Mon.  27. — We  set  out  for  Leigh,  in  Essex 2 ;  but,  being 
hindered  a  little  in  the  morning,  the  night  came  on,  without 
either  moon  or  stars,  when  we  were  about  two  miles  short  of 
Rayleigh.  The  ruts  were  so  deep  and  uneven  that  the  horses 
could  scarce  stand,  and  the  chaise  was  continually  in  danger  of 
overturning  ;  so  that  my  companions  thought  it  best  to  walk  to 
the  town,  though  the  road  was  both  wet  and  dirty.  Leaving 
them  at  Rayleigh,  I  took  horse  again.  It  was  so  thoroughly 
dark  that  we  could  not  see  our  horses'  heads ;  however,  by  the 
help  of  Him  to  whom  the  night  shineth  as  the  day,  we  hit  every 
turning  ;  and,  without  going  a  quarter  of  a  mile  out  of  our  way, 
before  nine  came  to  Leigh. 

Wed.  29. — 1  returned  to  London.3  In  my  scraps  of  time,  on 
this  and  two  or  three  other  days,  I  read  over  (what  I  had  often 
heard  much  commended)  Lord  Anson's  Voyage}  What  pity  he 
had  not  a  better  historian  ! — one  who  had  eyes  to  see  and 
courage  to  own  the  hand  of  God.5 

Nov.  5,  Wed. — Mr.  Whitefield  called  upon  me.     Disputings 


1  On  Tuesday  the  21st  he  preached  at  Published  in  1748.     The  'historian'  was 
Bray,  on  Wednesday  the  22nd  at  Salis-  Benjamin  Robins,  F.R.S. 

bury  and  Westcombe,  and  on  Friday  the  *  On   Oct.    31    he   wrote  a   letter   to 

24th  at  Bearfield.  Rev.  Thomas  Adams  (  Works,  vol.  xiii. 

2  See  Metk.  Rec.  April  21,  1898.  p.  207)  defining  the  Methodist  position 
s  And  preached  at  Bishop  Bonner's.  in  relation  to  the  Church  of  England. 
1  A  Voyage  Round  the  World,  I  740-4.  On  Nov.  3  he  preached  at  Wapping. 

VOL.    IV  9 


1 40  John   Wesley  s  Journal  mov.  17M. 

are  now  no  more  ;  we  love  one  another,  and  join  hand  in  hand 
to  promote  the  cause  of  our  common  Master. 

In  the  afternoon  I  buried  the  remains  of  Samuel  Larwood,1 
who  died  of  a  fever  on  Sunday  morning,  deeply  convinced  of 
his  unfaithfulness,  and  yet  hoping  to  find  mercy.  He  had  lately 
taken  and  repaired  a  building  in  Southwark,  called  by  the  vener- 
able men  who  built  it,  Zoar.2  His  executor  offering  it  to  me  on  the 
evening  of  Friday  the  7th,  that  solemn  day  which  we  observed 
with  fasting  and  prayer  for  our  King  and  country,  I  preached  there 
to  a  large  and  quiet  congregation  ;  but  most  of  them  appeared 
wild  enough  :  and  such  were  we,  till  grace  made  the  difference. 

Mon.  10. — I  preached  at  the  Wells  3 ;  and  I  did  not  wonder 
that  God  gave  an  uncommon  blessing  to  those  who  then 
assembled  in  His  name,  considering  the  difficulties  they  had 
broke  through.  The  frost  was  very  severe,  accompanied  with 
such  a  fog  as  perhaps  the  oldest  man  there  never  saw  before. 
The  lamps  could  not  be  seen  across  the  street,  and  hardly  the 
ground,  by  those  who  had  lights  in  their  hands.  Many  lost 
their  way  when  they  were  just  at  their  own  doors.  And  it  was 
almost  as  hard  to  breathe  as  to  see.  How  easy  it  is  for  God  to 
punish  a  sinful  nation,  even  without  employing  an  arm  of 
flesh! 

Mon.  17. — As  we  were  walking  towards  Wapping  the  rain 
poured  down  with  such  violence  that  we  were  obliged  to  take 
shelter  till  it  abated.  We  then  held  on  to  Gravel  Lane,  in 
many  parts  of  which  the  waters  were  like  a  river.  However, 
we  got  on  pretty  well  till  the  rain  put  out  the  candle  in  our 
lantern.  We  then  were  obliged  to  wade  through  all,  till  we 
came  to  the  chapel-yard.  Just  as  we  entered  it  a  little  streak 
of  lightning  appeared  in  the  south-west.  There  was  likewise 
a  small  clap  of  thunder,  and  a  vehement  burst  of  rain,  which 
rushed  so  plentifully  through  our  shattered  tiles  that  the  vestry 
was  all  in  a  float.      Soon  after  I   began  reading  prayers  the 


1  See  above,  p.  23.  preached  in  by  John  Bunyan.     Old  and 

2  Zoar  Street  preserves  the  name.  New  London,  vol.  vi.  p.  40,  says  Zoar 
The  chapel  stood  on  the  north  side,  became  first  a  brewery,  then  a  factory, 
near  the  west  end,  and  the  site  is  now  See  W.H.S.  vol.  vii.  p.  HO;  also  above, 
covered  by  a  block  of  model  dwellings.  p.  127. 

It  was  originally  a  Presbyterian  meeting-  3  And  at  West  Street.     For  the  Wells 

house,      and,      tradition     affirms,     was  see  above,  p.  93. 


Dec  1756 


hi  London  141 


lightning  flamed  all  round  it,  and  the  thunder  rolled  just  over 
our  heads.  When  it  grew  louder  and  louder,  perceiving  many 
of  the  strangers  to  be  much  affrighted,  I  broke  off  the  prayers, 
after   the   Collect,    '  Lighten    our   darkness,   we    beseech    Thee, 

0  Lord,'  and  began  applying  '  The  Lord  sitteth  above  the 
water-flood  ;  the  Lord  remaineth  a  King  for  ever.'  Presently 
the  lightning,  thunder,  and  rain  ceased,  and  we  had  a  remark- 
ably calm  evening. 

It  was  observed  that  exactly  at  this  hour  they  were  acting 
Macbeth  in  Drury  Lane,  and  just'as  the  mock-thunder  began  the 
Lord  began  to  thunder  out  of  heaven.  For  a  while  it  put  them 
to  a  stand  ;  but  they  soon  took  courage,  and  went  on.  Other- 
wise it  might  have  been  suspected  that  the  fear  of  God  had  crept 
into  the  very  theatre  ! 

Tues.  18. — We  had  a  solemn  watch-night  at  Zoar. 

Wed.  26. — Being  much  importuned  thereto,  I  wrote  Serious 
Tlioughts  on  the  Earthquake  at  Lisbon^  directed,  not  as  I  designed 
at  first,  to  the  small  vulgar,  but  the  great — to  the  learned,  rich, 
and  honourable  heathens,  commonly  called  Christians. 

Dec.  2,  Tues. — I  received  a  remarkable  letter,2  part  of  which 

1  have  here  subjoined  : 

It  may  seem  strange,  sir,  that  I,  whom  you  have  no  personal  know- 
ledge of,  should  write  with  the  freedom  I  am  now  going  to  take.  But, 
I  trust  you  desire  as  much  to  instruct  as  I  to  be  instructed.  I  have 
long  laboured  under  a  disease  which  comes  the  nearest  to  that  which  is 
named  scepticism.  I  rejoice  at  one  time  in  the  belief  that  the  religion 
of  my  country  is  true  ;  but  how  transient  my  joy !  While  my  busy 
imagination  ranges  through  nature,  books,  and  men,  I  often  drop  into 
that  horrible  pit  of  Deism,  and  in  vain  bemoan  my  fall.  The  two  main 
springs  which  alternately  move  my  soul  to  these  opposite  opinions  are, 
first,  Can  it  be,  that  the  great  God  of  the  boundless  universe,  containing 
many  thousand  better  worlds  than  this,  should  become  incarnate  here, 
and  die  on  a  piece  of  wood  ?     There  I  lose  my  belief  of  Christianity. 

But  on  the  other  hand  I  think,  Well,  let  me  examine  the  fitness  of 


1  The  earthquake  took  place  on  Nov.  I,  ■  From  John  Walsh,   Wesley's  corre- 

1 755-       A  large  part   of   the    city  was  spondent  also  in  1758.     See  Arm.  Mag. 

destroyed,    and  over  30,000   lives   were  1780,  p.  103.     In  Arm.  Mag.   1779  are 

lost.     The   Serious    Thoughts   soon   ran  two  letters  following  up  this  correspond- 

into   six   editions.     See   Works,  vol.  xi.  ence.     They  are  dated  Dec.  21,  1755,  and 

pp.  1-13  ;  Green's  Bibliog.  No.  171.  Feb.  I,  1756  (pp.  376,  432). 


142  John    Wesley  s  J ournal  [Dec.  1765. 

things  which  Deism  boasts  of.  And  certain  it  is  I  discern  nothing  but 
beauty  and  wisdom  in  the  inanimate  parts  of  the  creation.  But  how  is 
the  animate  side  of  nature  ?  It  shocks  me  with  powerful  cruelty  and 
bleeding  innocence.  I  cannot  call  the  earth  (as  Fontenelle  does)  '  a 
great  rolling  globe  covered  over  with  fools,'  but  rather  a  great  rolling 
globe  covered  over  with  slaughter-houses,  where  few  beings  can  escape 
but  those  of  the  butcher  kind — the  lion,  wolf,  or  tiger.  And  as  to  man 
himself,  he  is  undoubtedly  the  supreme  lord,  nay,  the  uncontrollable 
tyrant,  of  this  globe.  Yet  survey  him  in  a  state  of  Deism,  and  I  must 
pronounce  him  a  very  poor  creature  ;  he  is  then  a  kind  of  Jack  Ketch, 
an  executioner-general.  He  may,  nay,  he  must,  destroy,  for  his  own 
subsistence  multitudes  of  beings  that  have  done  him  no  wrong.  He 
has  none  of  that  heavenly  power  to  restore  life ;  and  can  he  be  fond  of 
the  permission  to  take  it  away  ?  One  who,  like  me,  is  subject  to  the 
tender  passions,  will  never  be  proud  of  this. 

No  dying  brute  I  view  in  anguish  here, 
But  from  my  melting  eye  descends  a  tear. 

The  very  beasts  are  entitled  to  my  compassion ;  but  who  can  express 
the  anxieties  I  feel  for  the  afflictions  sustained  by  virtuous  men,  and  my 
abhorrence  of  the  cruel  ?  Yet  in  Deism  I  can  discern  no  reward  for  the 
one  or  punishment  for  the  other.  On  this  view  of  things  the  Castilian 
King  might  well  say  he  could  have  directed  God  to  amend  His 
creation. 

I  think,  upon  the  whole,  the  God  of  wisdom  would  not  have  made 
a  world  so  much  in  want  of  a  Redeemer  as  this  and  not  give  it  one ; 
therefore  at  present  I  am  again  a  Christian.  Oh  that  the  Son  of  God 
would  confirm  me  His  !  As  yet  my  soul  is  like  a  weather-beaten  bird 
that  hovers  over  the  great  ocean,  tired  and  afraid  of  dropping.  Death 
and  eternity  are  ready  to  receive  it ;  the  pleasant  land  is  out  of  sight, 
hid  by  fogs  and  mists,  and  the  way  unknown  to  gain  the  happy 
groves. 

I  was  formerly  apt  to  mention  my  scepticism,  both  to  clergymen  and 
laymen,  with  a  view  of  lessening  the  evil,  but  they  rather  increased  it. 
Few  clergymen  cared  to  discourse  on  the  subject,  and  if  they  did  they 
generally  expected  that  a  few  weak  reasons  should  eradicate  at  once 
strong  and  deep-rooted  prejudices ;  and  most  laymen  discovered  an 
utter  ignorance  of  the  religion  they  pretended  to  believe,  and  looked 
upon  me  as  if  I  had  the  plague  for  owning  I  did  not  believe  it.  What 
method  could  I  take  ?  I  long  avoided  speaking  of  religion  to  any  but 
its  Great  Author,  who,  I  hope,  has  at  last  led  me  to  one  that  is  capable 
of  removing  my  spiritual  darkness.  May  the  Giver  of  all  goodness 
reward  you  in  that  day  when  (according  to  the  prophet  Daniel)  '  the 


Dec.  1766. 


///  London  143 


wise  shall  shine  as  the  brightness  of  the  firmament,  and  they  that  turn 
many  to  righteousness  as  the  stars  for  ever  ' ! 1 

Fri.  12. — As  I  was  returning  from  Zoar  I  came  as  well  as 
usual  to  Moorfields  ;  but  there  my  strength  entirely  failed,  and 
such  a  faintness  and  weariness  seized  me  that  it  was  with 
difficulty  I  got  home.  I  could  not  but  think  how  happy  it 
would  be  (suppose  we  were  ready  for  the  Bridegroom)  to  sink 
down  and  steal  away  at  once,  without  any  of  the  hurry  and 
pomp  of  dying  !  Yet  it  is  happier  still  to  glorify  God  in  our 
death  as  well  as  our  life. 

About  this  time  I  received  a  serious,  sensible  letter,  the 
substance  of  which  was  as  follows  2 : 

Scarce  any  nation  passes  a  century  without  some  remarkable 
fluctuation.  How  should  it  be  otherwise  ?  For  how  can  that  be 
perpetually  stable  wherein  man,  full  of  instability,  is  principally  con- 
cerned ?  It  is  certain,  therefore,  that  all  the  quiet  in  a  nation  is  ordered 
by  divine  wisdom,  as  all  the  confusions  and  convulsions  are  permitted 
by  divine  justice.  Let  us  view  the  present  state  of  Great  Britain  in  this 
light,  resting  assured  that  all  which  befalls  us  is  intended  to  promote  our 
good  in  this  world  and  that  which  is  to  come. 

This  land  is  ripe  for  judgements.  How  few  are  there  herein  who 
even  intend  to  please  God  in  all  they  do  !  And  all  besides  are  subjects 
of  divine  wrath.  For  all  who  live  without  any  regard  to  God  are  wilful 
sinners  against  God,  and  every  hour  liable  to  the  stroke  of  His  offended 
justice. 

And  what  shall  these  do  when  visited  by  the  sword,  the  plague,  the 
famine,  or  the  furious  elements  ?  Oh  that  they  would  turn  to  God 
through  the  Saviour  of  sinners  !  Surely  then  they  would  find  mercy  ! 
Yea,  and  probably  see  the  salvation  of  God,  even  in  the  land  of  the 
living. 

But  what  shall  the  Christians  do  in  the  time  of  public  calamities  ? 
Be  still,  look  up,  and  follow  Providence.  Be  still,  O  my  soul  !  in  the 
midst  of  tumults  and  the  distress  of  nations.  Take  no  comfort  in  any- 
thing but  in  the  consciousness  of  divine  love.  Listen  to  His  voice,  and 
quietly  wait  to  see  the  hand  of  God  over  all.  If  you  are  uncertain 
what  to  do,  look  up  and  expect  wisdom  from  above.  If  you  fear,  look 
up  for  courage  and  faith  to  act  well  on  all  occasions.  If  the  sword  is  at 
your  throat,  look  up  for  submission  to  the  wise  and  gracious  will  of 


1  On .  Sunday,  Dec.  7,  he  preached  at  ''  This  was  reprinted  in  the  Arm.  Mag. 

West  Street.  1795,  p.  155. 


1 44  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Dec.  1756. 

God.  Look  up  for  power  to  pray  without  ceasing,  and  in  everything  to 
give  thanks.  Follow  Providence.  Do  not  run  before,  but  after,  the 
hand  that  leads  the  simple-hearted,  with  a  steady  attention  and  a 
determinate  purpose  to  do  what  is  pleasing  to  Him. 

But  what  shall  the  Christians  do  if  the  storm  come — if  our  country 
be  actually  invaded  ?  The  general  answer  must  be  the  same  :  '  Be  still ; 
look  up ;  follow  Providence.'  A  particular  answer  is  hard  to  give  yet. 
Only  so  far  one  may  say  :  (1)  We  must  take  great  care  of  our  spirits.  If 
we  sink  into  the  world's  fears  or  joys  we  shall  lose  our  hold  on  God. 
The  spirit  of  the  Christians  and  the  spirit  of  the  world  are  entirely 
different.  They  can  never  agree  in  what  appertains  to  the  work  of 
God,  either  in  His  dispensations  of  grace  or  justice.  (2)  Every  one 
should  deeply  consider  what  he  is  called  to.  Some  may  think  it  would 
be  a  sin  to  defend  themselves.  Happy  are  they  if  they  can  refrain 
from  judging  or  condemning  those  that  are  of  a  different  persuasion. 
Certain  it  is  some  have  fought  and  died  in  a  just  cause  with  a  conscience 
void  of  offence.  To  some,  therefore,  it  may  be  matter  of  duty  to  repel 
the  common  enemy.  (3)  They  who  believe  they  are  called  to  this 
should  proceed  in  all  things  in  a  Christian  spirit.  They  should,  if 
possible,  join  in  one  body.  They  should  endeavour  to  avoid  trifling 
company  and  conversation.  They  should  learn  the  exercise  with 
prayers  and  hymns.     But  who  of  us  is  sufficient  for  these  things  ? 

Sun.  14. — The  minds  of  many  people  being  deeply  affected 
with  a  prospect  of  public  calamities,  I  explained  those  comfort- 
able words  in  the  First  Lesson  (Isa.  xxvi.  20):  'Come,  My 
people,  enter  thou  into  thy  chambers,  and  shut  thy  doors  about 
thee.  Hide  thyself  as  it  were  for  a  little  moment,  until  the 
indignation  be  overpast.' 

Tues.  16. — I  set  out  for  Lewisham,  appointing  one  to  meet 
me  with  my  horse  at  the  Stone's  End.1  But  he  mistook  his  way, 
and  so  left  me  to  walk  on,  in  my  boots  and  great-coat  When 
I  came  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  Lewisham  Bridge  a  coach 
drove  swiftly  by  me.  I  wondered  why  the  coachman  stopped, 
till  he  called,  and  desired  me  to  come  up  to  him.  The  reason 
then  appeared — -the  low  grounds  were  quite  covered  with  water, 
so  that  I  could  not  have  attempted  to  reach  the  bridge  without 
hazarding  my  life.2 


1  Stone's  End,  near  the  Marshalsea  in       Dover  Road.     See  W.H.S.  vol.  vii.  p.  71. 
the  Borough.      In  Paterson's  Road  Map  •  On  Friday  the  19th  he  preached  at 

miles  are  counted  from  this  point  on  the      West  Street. 


Jan.  1756.1 


Public  Affairs  145 


Tries.  23.1 — I  was  in  the  robe-chamber  adjoining  to  the 
House  of  Lords  when  the  King  put  on  his  robes.2  His  brow 
was  much  furrowed  with  age,  and  quite  clouded  with  care. 
And  is  this  all  the  world  can  give  even  to  a  king  ?  All  the 
grandeur  it  can  afford?  A  blanket  of  ermine  round  his 
shoulders,  so  heavy  and  cumbersome  he  can  scarce  move 
under  it !  A  huge  heap  of  borrowed  hair,  with  a  few  plates 
of  gold  and  glittering  stones  upon  his  head  !  Alas,  what  a 
bauble  is  human  greatness  !  And  even  this  will  not  endure. 
Cover  the  head  with  ever  so  much  hair  and  gold,  yet — 

Scit  te  Proserpina  canum  ; 
Personam  capiti  detrahet  ilia  tuo.3 

1756.  Jan.  i. — We  had  a  large  congregation  at  four  in  the 
morning.'  How  much  are  men  divided  in  their  expectations 
concerning  the  ensuing  year  !  Will  it  bring  a  large  harvest 
of  temporal  calamities,  or  of  spiritual  blessings  ?  Perhaps  of 
both — of  temporal  afflictions  preparatory  to  spiritual  blessings. 

Mon.  5. — This  week  I  wrote  An  Address  to  the  Clergy? 
which,  considering  the  state  of  public  affairs,  I  judged  would 
be  more  seasonable  and  more  easily  borne  at  this  time  than  at 
any  other.6 

Wed.  14. — Mr.  Walsh  wrote  to  me  as  follows  : 

Rev.  and  very  dear  Sir, 

In  Mr.   Booker's   letter  are   many  palpable  falsehoods.7     But 
what  exasperated    him  so  he  does  not  tell.     It  was  my  opposing  his 


1  On  Thursday  the  25th  he  preached  6  Jan.  6  is  the  date  at  the  end  of  A 
at  West  Street.  Letter  to  the  Reverend  W.  Law.     At  the 

2  George  II  was  then  seventy-two  beginning  is  the  date  'Dec.  15,  1755' 
years  of  age— the  last  King  of  England  (Green's  Bibliography,  No.  174,  and 
to  lead  an  army  into  battle  (Dettingen,  Works,  vol.  ix.  p.  466).  He  also  wrote  to 
1743).  He  reigned  thirty-three  years  ;  Joseph  Cownley  on  the  10th  (vol.  xii. 
was  also  Elector  of  Hanover  :  died  in  p.  224).  On  the  9th  he  preached  at  Zoar. 
1760.  '  The  reference  is  probably  to  one  of 

'  '  Proserpine  knows  you  to  be  white-  the  Two  Letters  Concerning  the  Methodists, 

haired  ;  she  will  strip  off  the  mask  from  published  in  1752,  a  rare  publication,  the 

your    head  '    (Martial,   Epigr.    iii.    43).  originals  of  which  are  in  Trinity  College 

W.H.S.  vol.  v.  p.  30.  Library,    Dublin.      His   roughness  not- 

4  At  the  Founder  y  ;  also,  later  in  the  withstanding,  there  is  evidence  to  show 

day,  at  West  Street.  that  Booker  admired  both  the  scholarship 

4  See    Works,  vol.     x.    p.  480 ;    also  and  character   of   Walsh.      See    above, 

Green's  Wesley  Bibliography ,  No.  175.  p.  39. 


1 46  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Jan.  1766. 

Arian  principles,  my  telling  him  I  had  the  same  arguments  to  prove 
the  Divinity  of  Christ  as  to  prove  the  Godhead  of  the  Father. 
(1)  The  Father  is  called  God,  bx  ;  so  is  the  Son,  Isa.  ix.  6.  (2)  The 
Father  is  called  Dv6x  ;  so  is  the  Son,  Hos.  i.  7.  (3)  The  Father 
is  called  nirv ;  so  is  the  Son,  Jer.  xxiii.  6.  (4)  The  Father  is  said 
to  be  from  everlasting  ;  so  the  Son  is  called  iy  »3K,  Isa.  ix.  6.  Not 
the  everlasting  Father,  but  the  Father  or  Author  of  eternity.  (5)  The 
Father  is  said  to  create  all  things  ;  so  is  the  Son,  John  i.  and  Col.  i. 
(6)  The  Father  is  said  to  be  almighty ;  so  is  the  Son.  (7)  The 
Father  is  omnipresent ;  so  is  the  Son,  Matt,  xviii.  20.  (8)  The 
Father  is  omniscient ;  so  is  the  Son,  Rev.  ii.  23.  (9)  The  Father 
forgives  sins;  so  does  the  Son,  Mark  ii.  5-1 1.  (10)  The  Father  is 
Judge  of  all ;  so  is  the  Son. 

But  still  he  disputed  whether  any  man  should  pray  to  Christ.  I 
gave  these  reasons  for  it :  (1)  All  men  are  bound  to  honour  the  Son 
as  they  honour  the  Father.  But  we  are  to  honour  the  Father  by  praying 
to  Him,  therefore  we  should  so  honour  the  Son.  (2)  God  commands, 
'  Let  all  the  angels  of  God  worship  Him.'  This  is  done,  Rev.  v.  12,  13. 
And  it  is  certain  praise  and  thanksgiving  are  superior  rather  than 
inferior  to  prayer.  (3)  St.  Paul  prayed  to  Him,  2  Cor.  xii.  8,  9. 
(4)  St.  Stephen  prayed  to  Him,  Acts  vii.  59.  (The  word  God  is 
not  in  the  original.)  (5)  All  believers  in  the  apostolic  age  prayed 
to  Him,  1  Cor.  i.  2.  For  what  is  to  call  upon  His  name  but  to  pray 
to  Him  ? 

When  he  could  not  answer  these  reasons  he  called  them  cant,  and 
said,  '  Much  learning  has  made  thee  mad.'  What  he  calls  '  contempt ' 
was  confronting  him  with  Scripture  and  reason  in  defence  of  the 
Godhead  of  Christ.  I  acknowledge  I  have  been  an  opposer  of 
Arianism  ever  since  I  knew  what  it  was,  but  especially  since  my  late 
illness,  during  which  I  had  such  glorious  evidences  of  the  eternal 
power  and  Godhead  of  my  great  Redeemer.  I  bless  God  I  love 
Mr.  B[ooker],  as  well  as  all  mankind ;  but  it  grieves  me  to  see 
people  led  in  the  high  road  to  hell  instead  of  heaven,  especially  at 
a  time  which  calls  upon  all  to  awake  and  prepare  to  meet  their  God.1 

Saturday  the  17th,  and  in  the  spare  hours  of  the  following 
days,  I  read  over  Mr.  Pike's  Philosophia  Sacra,2  a  treatise 
admirably  well  wrote  by   an   ingenious  man,  who  says  all  that 


1  On  Thursday  the  15th  he  preached  sophia  Sacra;  or,  the  Principles  of 
at  Bishop  Bonner's  Hall  (see  above,  Natural  Philosophy  Extracted  from 
p.   101).  Divine  Revelation.    London,  1753.    8vo. 

2  Samuel  Pike  (I7i7(?)-i773).    Philo-  See  W.H. S.  vol.  iv.  p.  108  ;  below,  p.  190. 


Feb.  1766.-  In  Kent  and  London  147 

can  be  said  for  Mr.  Hutchinson's  hypothesis.1  But  it  is  only  an 
hypothesis  still  ;  much  supposition  and  little  proof? 

Mon.  26. — I  rode  to  Canterbury,  and  preached  in  the 
evening  to  such  a  congregation  as  I  never  saw  there  before,  in 
which  were  abundance  of  the  soldiers,  and  not  a  few  of  their 
officers. 

Wed.  28. — I  preached  about  noon  at  Dover3  to  a  very  serious 
but  small  congregation.  We  afterwards  walked  up  to  the  Castle, 
on  the  top  of  a  mountain.  It  is  an  amazingly  fine  situation,  and 
from  hence  we  had  a  clear  view  of  that  vast  piece  of  the  cliff 
which  a  few  days  ago  divided  from  the  rest  and  fell  down  upon 
the  beach. 

Fri.  30. — In  returning  to  London  I  read  the  life  of  the  late 
Czar,  Peter  the  Great.  Undoubtedly  he  was  a  soldier,  a  general, 
and  a  statesman,  scarce  inferior  to  any.  But  why  was  he  called 
a  Christian  ?  What  has  Christianity  to  do  either  with  deep 
dissimulation  or  savage  cruelty  ?  i 

Feb.  6,  Fri. — The  fast-day  was  a  glorious  day,  such  as 
London  has  scarce  seen  since  the  Restoration.5  Every  church 
in  the  city  was  more  than  full,  and  a  solemn  seriousness  sat  on 
every  face.  Surely  God  heareth  the  prayer,  and  there  will  yet 
be  a  lengthening  of  our  tranquillity. 

Even  the  Jews  observed  this  day  with  a  peculiar  solem- 
nity. The  form  of  prayer  which  was  used  in  their  synagogue 
began  :  '  Come,  and  let  us  return  unto  the  Lord,  for  He  hath  torn 
and  He  will  heal  us,'  and  concluded  with  those  remarkable  words  : 

'  Incline  the  heart  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  King  George,  as  well  as  the 
hearts  of  his  lords  and  counsellors,  to  use  us  kindly,  and  all  our 
brethren,  the  children  of  Israel,  that  in  his  days  and  in  our  days  we 


1  John  Hutchinson,  bom  in  1674,  was  3  For  early  preaching-places  in  Dover 

steward  to  the  Duke  of  Somerset.     His  (and  the  Cliff)  see  Meth  Rec.  Aug.    16, 

Principia  were  an  attempt  to  set  aside  1906. 

the  Newtonian  doctrine  of  gravitation.  *  From  Feb.  1  he  was  in  London  (see 

-  Between    Saturday    the     17th     and  Sermon   Register),    and   on   Feb.    5    he 

Monday  the  26th  he  seems  to  have  been  wrote  his    third   letter  to  R.  Tompson 

in   London.     The  places    at    which   he  ( Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  469).     He  also  wrote 

preached  are  not  named,  but  the  Sermon  to  Dr.  Dodd  (  Works,  vol.  xi.  p.  448). 

Register  gives  many  texts.    In  this  month  s  Humiliation  was  turned  into  national 

he  also  preached  at  Lewisham,Wapping,  rejoicing,  for  the  threatened  invasion  by 

and  Bromley.  the  French  was  averted. 


148  John    Wesley  s  Journal  Feb  i7w. 

may  see  the  restoration  of  Judah,  and  that  Israel  may  dwell  in 
safety,  and  the  Redeemer  may  come  to  Zion.  May  it  be  Thy  will ! 
And  we  all  say,  Amen.' 1 

Feb.  14-19,  1756 

[.  .  .  to  recover,  though  slowly,  from  that  hour. 

[T/iur.  19. — Daniel  Car,  whom  I  never  saw  before,  but  heard 
from  others  that  he  had  been  for  some  time  remarkably  serious 
— a  prentice  to  one  Mr.  Rogers,  a  tailor,  on  Stepney  Causeway — 
gave  me  the  account  following  : 

[About  the  beginning  of  last  month  there  were  strange  noises  in  our 
house,  which  were  heard  by  many.  Jan.  10,  about  a  quarter  past 
ten  at  night,  I  went  up  into  a  two-pair-of-stairs  room  and  sat  down 
to  read  my  Bible,  when  I  heard  a  knocking  under  my  feet,  as  if  it  was 
in  the  room  below.  I  took  the  candle  in  my  left  hand,  and  the  book  in 
my  right,  and  went  down  immediately.  As  soon  as  I  went  into  the 
room  the  candle  went  out,  and  I  saw  a  man  standing  in  the  middle  of 
the  chamber,  in  light-coloured  cloths  and  a  green  velvet  waistcoat,  with 
a  lighted  torch  in  his  hand.  I  said,  '  In  the  name  of  God  the  Father, 
Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  who  are  you,  and  what  do  you  want  ? '  He  said, 
'I  am  the  spirit  of  Richard  Sims,  who  died  here  in  the  year  1702.  I 
have  a  nephew  at  Kingston-upon-Thames,  Thomas  Roberts,  an 
apothecary ;  you  must  go  and  warn  him  and  his  sister  from  me  that 
they  immediately  turn  to  God,  for  he  will  die  on  the  26th  of  next 
month,  and  she  will  die  on  the  30th.'  I  said,  '  I  can't  go,  for  my  time 
is  not  my  own.'  He  answered,  '  Can  you  write  ? '  I  said  '  Yes.' 
'  Then,'  said  he,  '  you  must  write  to  them.  Go  and  fetch  pen,  ink,  and 
paper,  and  I  will  tell  you  what  to  write.'  I  went  and  fetched  a  pen  and 
ink,  with  a  sheet  of  paper.  When  I  came  in  again  the  table,  which 
used  to  stand  near  the  window,  was  removed  to  the  feet  of  the  bed. 
So  I  sat  down,  and  he  stood  before  the  table,  and  told  me,  word  by 
word,  what  to  write.  I  wrote  a  whole  sheet  of  paper  on  all  four  sides, 
describing  the  torment  of  hell  in  such  words  as  I  had  never  heard  in 
my  life,  enough  to  make  one's  blood  run  cold.  When  I  had  done  he 
said,  '  I  will  give  them  a  mark  that  it  comes  from  me.'  So  he  struck 
the  burning  end  of  his  torch  on  the  paper,  and  it  turned  that  part  of  it 
into  the  colour  of  half-burnt  tinder.  He  then  said,  'What  book  is 
that  ? '  I  answered,  '  The  Bible.'  He  said,  '  Open  it,  and  read  where 
your  eye  falls.'  I  did  so,  and  read,  John  v.  28,  29  :  '  The  hour  is  coming 
in  which  all  that  are  in  the  graves  shall  hear  His  voice,  and  shall  come 


1  On  Tuesday  the   17th  he  preached       letter    to     R.    Tompson    was    written, 
at  Deptford.     On  Feb.   18th  the  fourth       {Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  472.) 


March  1756.1  Canterbury :  London:  Bristol  149 

forth  ;  they  that  have  done  good  unto  the  resurrection  of  life,  and  they 
that  have  done  evil  unto  the  resurrection  of  damnation.'  At  that  word 
he  gave  such  a  groan  and  shriek  as  I  never  heard  and  .  .  .] l 

J/on.  23. — I  paid  another  visit  to  Canterbury,  but  came  in 
too  late  to  preach. 

Tues.  24. — Abundance  of  soldiers  and  many  officers  came  to 
the  preaching.  And  surely  the  fear  and  the  love  of  God  will 
prepare  them  either  for  death  or  victory. 

Wed.  25. — 1   dined  with  Colonel ,2  who  said  :  •  No  men 

fight  like  those  who  fear  God  ;  I  had  rather  command  five 
hundred  such  than  any  regiment  in  his  Majesty's  army.' 

TJiur.  26. — I  had  so  severe  a  cold  that  I  could  hardly  speak 
to  be  heard.  However,  I  preached  morning  and  evening,  as  I 
could,  and  the  next  day  returned  to  London.3 

MARCH  i,  Mon. — I  set  out  for  Bristol.  Some  time  after 
I  received  the  copy  of  another  letter,  dated  March  2,  from 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Davies  in  Virginia,4  part  of  which  I  have 
subjoined  : 

When  the  books  arrived  I  gave  public  notice  after  sermon,  and 
desired  such  negroes  as  could  read,  and  such  white  people  as  would 
make  good  use  of  them  and  were  not  able  to  buy,  to  come  to  my 
house.  For  some  time  after  the  poor  slaves,  whenever  they  could  get 
an  hour's  leisure,  hurried  away  to  me,  and  received  them  with  all  the 
genuine  indications  of  passionate  gratitude.  All  the  books  were  very 
acceptable,  but  none  more  so  than  the  Psalms  and  Hymns,  which 
enabled  them  to  gratify  their  peculiar  taste  for  psalmody.  Sundry  of 
them  lodged  all  night  in  my  kitchen,  and  sometimes,  when  I  have 
awaked  at  two  or  three  in  the  morning,  a  torrent  of  sacred  psalmody 
has  poured  into  my  chamber.  In  this  exercise  some  of  them  spend  the 
whole  night. 

The  good  effects  of  this  charity  are  already  apparent.  It  convinces 
the  heathen  that,  however  careless  about  religion  the  generality  of  the 


1  The  above  is  a  fragment  of  another  a  On  Friday  the  27th  he  preached  at 

version  of  the  Journal  in  the  handwriting  Zoar,    and     on    Sunday    the     29th     in 

of  Wesley.     This    narrative,    and    also  London. 

another  given  below,    pp.  250-3,    were  '  Of  Hanover,  Virginia.     For  his  first 

discovered  among  Wesley  letters  in  the  letter   to    Wesley    see    above,    p.    125, 

Colman    Collection.      They     have    not  and  for  his  third  letter  below,  p.  194.     In 

hitherto  been  published,  so  far  as  we  have  Anderson's     History    of     the    Colonial 

been  able  to  ascertain.  Church,  vol.  iii.  p.    133,  is  an   account 

*  Probably  Colonel  Gallatin,  who  was  of  this  able,  zealous,  and  eloquent  Presby- 

stationed  at  Canterbury.  terian  minister. 


150  John    Wesley  s  Journal  rMarcni756. 

white  people  are,  yet  there  are  some  who  think  it  a  matter  of  im- 
portance. It  has  excited  some  of  their  masters  to  emulation,  and  they 
are  ashamed  that  strangers  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic  Ocean 
should  be  at  such  pains  to  teach  their  domestics,  while  themselves 
are  negligent  about  it.  Such  of  the  negroes  as  can  read  already  are 
evidently  improving  in  knowledge.  It  has  excited  others  to  learn  to 
read,  for  as  I  give  books  to  none  but  such  as  can  read,  they  consider 
them  as  a  reward  for  their  industry.  And  I  am  told  that,  in  almost 
every  house  in  my  congregation,  and  in  many  other  places,  they  spend 
every  leisure  hour  in  endeavouring  to  learn.  Many  do  this  from  a 
sincere  desire  to  know  the  will  of  God,  and  if  some  should  do  it  from 
the  meaner  principle  of  vanity  or  curiosity,  yet  I  cannot  but  rejoice 
that  it  renders  them  the  more  capable  of  receiving  instruction.  To  all 
this  I  may  add  that  the  very  distributing  these  books  gives  me  an 
opportunity  of  speaking  seriously,  and  with  particular  application,  to 
many  who  would  not  otherwise  come  in  my  way. 

There  are  thousands  of  negroes  in  this  colony  who  still  continue 
in  the  grossest  ignorance,  and  are  as  rank  pagans  now  as  they  were  in 
the  wilds  of  Africa.  Not  a  few  of  these  are  within  the  bounds  of  my 
congregation.  But  all  are  not  of  this  character.  Upon  some  my 
ministry  of  late  has  been  successful.  Two  Sundays  ago  I  had  the 
pleasure  of  seeing  forty  of  their  black  faces  at  the  Lord's  Table,  several 
of  whom  give  unusual  evidence  of  their  sincerity  in  religion.  Last  Sunday 
I  baptized  seven  or  eight,  who  had  been  catechized  for  some  time. 
Indeed,  many  of  them  appear  determined  to  press  into  the  kingdom, 
and,  I  am  persuaded,  will  find  an  abundant  entrance  when  many  of  the 
children  of  the  kingdom  are  shut  out. 

I  have  distributed  some  of  the  books  among  the  poor  white  people, 
with  a  charge  to  circulate  them  among  such  of  their  neighbours  as 
would  seriously  read  them,  that  they  might  be  as  extensively  serviceable 
as  possible,  and  some  of  them  have  since  discovered  to  me  what 
solemn  impressions  they  received  in  reading  them. 

I  sent  a  few  of  each  sort  to  my  friend  Mr.  Wright,  minister  of 
Cumberland,  about  ninety  miles  hence,  where  there  are  not  a  few 
negroes  thoughtful  about  Christianity,  and  sundry  real  converts,  and 
he  informs  me  they  have  met  with  a  very  agreeable  and  pro- 
mising reception.  He  takes  much  pains  in  instructing  them,  and 
has  set  up  two  or  three  schools  among  them,  where  they  attend 
on  Sundays  before  and  after  sermon,  for  they  have  no  other  leisure 
time. 

Wed.  3.— I  found  Bristol  all  in  a  flame,1  voters  and  non-voters 


1  And,    indeed,    the    whole    country.       many  believed)  for  rebellion  ;  the  Ameri- 
War    with    France  ;    Ireland    ripe    (so      can  colonies  in  danger  ;  a  Franco- Papal 


March  1766. 


Political  Unrest  \  5 1 


being  ready  to  tear  each  other  in  pieces.  I  had  not  recovered 
my  voice  so  as  either  to  preach  or  speak  to  the  whole  society, 
but  I  desired  those  members  who  were  freemen  to  meet  me  by 
themselves,  whom  I  mildly  and  lovingly  informed  how  they 
ought  to  act  in  this  hour  of  temptation  ;  and  I  believe  the  far 
greater  part  of  them  received  and  profited  by  the  advice.1 

Thiir.  n. — I  rode  to  Pill  and  preached  to  a  large  and  atten- 
tive congregation.  A  great  part  of  them  were  sea-faring  men. 
In  the  middle  of  my  discourse  a  press-gang  landed  from  a  man- 
of-war  and  came  up  to  the  place,  but,  after  they  had  listened 
awhile,  they  went  quietly  by  and  molested  nobody.2 

Mon.  15. — I  rode  to  the  Old  Passage,  but,  finding  we  could 
not  pass,  we  went  on  to  Purton,  which  we  reached  about  four  in 
the  afternoon  ;  but  we  were  no  nearer  still,  for  the  boatmen 
lived  on  the  other  side,  and  the  wind  was  so  high  we  could  not 
possibly  make  them  hear.  However,  we  determined  to  wait  a 
while,  and  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour  they  came  of  their  own  accord. 
We  reached  Coleford  3  before  seven,  and  found  a  plain,  loving 
people,  who  received  the  word  of  God  with  all  gladness. 


invasion  threatened, — such  were  the  con-  which,  as  in  John  Wesley's  days,  soldiers 

ditions  under  which  Wesley  intervened  were   converted   and   received   into    the 

in   two  unlooked-for   ways.        First   he  Methodist  society.     See  Tyerman's  Life 

tried  in  the  only  way  then  open  to  him  of  Wesley,    vol.    ii.   pp.   234,  235.     Mr. 

to  influence  an  election  ;  and,  secondly,  West,     to     whom    Wesley   wrote,    was 

he  volunteered    to   raise   a  company  of  member  for  St.  Albans  and  joint  Secre- 

soldiers  for  service  at  home,  that  is  to  tary  to  the  Treasury.     For  the  letter  see 

say,  for  home  defence.     What  happened  Unpublished    Letters,    British    Museum 

in   Bristol    he   describes   in   a   letter   to  Autographs,    32,685,    p.    64,    endorsed 

Blackwell   (W.M.   Mag.    1848,  p.  777),  'March    2,    1756,    Mr.   Westley.'      See 

where    also    will    be   found    the    letter  also  Charles  Wesley's  satirical  reference 

to  the  Hon.  James  West,  in  which   he  to  his  brother's  soldiers  (Journal,  vol.  ii. 

offers,  if  acceptable  to  his  Majesty,  to  p.  200). 

raise  '  a  company  of  at  least  two  hundred  '  On  Sunday,  March  7,  he  preached  at 

volunteers  to  be  supported  by  contribu-  Bristol  and  Kingsvvood  ;  and  on  the  8th 

tions  among  themselves,  and  to  be  ready,  wrote  to  '  Mr.  Urban '  of  the  Gentleman's 

in  case  of  invasion,  to  act  for  a  year,  if  Magazine,  declaring  that  he  had  been  an 

needed  so  long,  at    his  Majesty's   plea-  eyewitness   of    every    particular    of  the 

sure,  only  within miles  of  London.'  Whiston  Cliff  phenomena. 

If  his  offer  is  accepted,  he  asks  for  a  loan  2  From  Kingswood,  March  12,  he 
of  arms  from  the  Tower  and  sergeants  to  wrote  to  Dr.  Dodd,  discussing  Christian 
train  the  corps  of  Methodist  'territorials.'  Perfection.  Four  days  later,  March  16, 
Such  a  company  was  actually  raised  early  he  wrote  his  fifth  letter  to  Richard 
in  the  next  century,  was  billeted  within  Tompson.  (  Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  473.) 
a  stone's-throw  of  the  New  Room  in  '  This  was  the  Forest-of-Dean  Cole- 
Bristol,    and    held     prayer-meetings    at  ford. 


1 5  2  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [March  nee. 

Tues.  1 6. — Examining  the  little  society,  I  found  them 
grievously  harassed  by  disputations.  Anabaptists  were  on 
one  side  and  Quakers  on  the  other ;  and  hereby  five  or  six 
persons  have  been  confused.  But  the  rest  cleave  so  much  the 
closer  together.  Nor  does  it  appear  that  there  is  now  one  trifler, 
much  less  a  disorderly  walker,  among  them. 

Wed.  i  J. — I  learned  the  particulars  of  that  surprising  storm 
which  was  here  the  year  before  last.  It  began  near  Cheltenham 
on  June  14,  1754,  and  passed  on  over  Coleford  in  a  line  about 
three  miles  broad.  It  was  rain  mixed  with  hail.  The  hail 
broke  all  the  windows  it  had  access  to,  stripped  all  the  trees 
both  of  fruit  and  leaves,  and  destroyed  every  green  thing. 
Many  of  the  stones  were  as  large  as  hen-eggs ;  some  were 
fourteen  or  fifteen  inches  round.  The  rain  occasioned  such  a 
torrent  of  water  in  the  street  as  bore  away  man  and  beast.  A 
mile  or  two  farther  it  joined  with  the  waters  of  a  mill-dam, 
which  it  broke  down,  and  carried  away  several  houses.  How 
frequent  would  accidents  of  this  kind  be  if  chance,  not  God, 
governed  the  world  ! 

Thur.  18. — We  rode  through  hard  rain  to  Brecknock,1  and 
came  just  at  the  hour  appointed  for  preaching.  The  town  hall, 
in  which  I  was  desired  to  preach,  is  a  large  and  commodious 
place,  and  the  whole  congregation  (one  poor  gentleman  excepted) 
behaved  with  seriousness  and  decency. 

Fri.  19. — I  rode  over  to  Howell  Harris  at  Trevecca,2  though 
not  knowing  how  to  get  any  farther ;  but  he  helped  us  out  of 
our  difficulties,  offering  to  send  one  with  us  who  would  show  us 
the  way  and  bring  our  horses  back.  So  I  then  determined  to 
go  on  to  Holyhead  after  spending  a  day  or  two  at  Brecknock. 

Sat.  20. — It  being  the  day  appointed  for  the  Justices  and 
Commissioners  to  meet,  the  town  was  extremely  full,  and 
curiosity  (if  no  better  motive)  brought  most  of  the  gentlemen 
to  the  preaching.  Such  another  opportunity  could  not  have 
been  of  speaking  to  all  the  rich  and  great  of  the  county  ;  and 
they  all  appeared  to  be  serious  and  attentive.  Perhaps  one  or 
two  may  lay  it  to  heart. 


1  Or  Brecon,  the  county  town  of  Breck-       Tyerman's     Life    of     Wesley,    vol.    iii. 
nockshire.  pp.  35,  36  ;  also  Meth.  Rec.  Winter  No., 

-  For   Trevecca   at   a   later   date    see       1896,  p.  83. 


March  1756.1 


In    Wales  153 


Sun.  21. —  I  delayed  preaching  till  nine  for  the  sake  of  the 
tender  and  delicate  ones.  At  two  we  had  near  the  whole  town, 
and  God  reserved  the  great  blessing  for  the  last.  Afterward  we 
rode  to  Trevecca.  But  our  guide  was  ill,  so  in  the  morning 
we  set  out  without  him. 

Before  I  talked  with  him  myself  I  wondered  H[owell]  Harris 
did  not  go  out  and  preach  as  usual.  But  he  now  informed  me 
he  preached  till  he  could  preach  no  longer,  his  constitution  being 
entirely  broken.  While  he  was  thus  confined,  he  was  pressed  in 
spirit  to  build  a  large  house,  though  he  knew  not  why  or  for 
whom.  But  as  soon  as  it  was  built,  men,  women,  and  children, 
without  his  seeking,  came  to  it  from  all  parts  of  Wales,  and, 
except  in  the  case  of  the  Orphan  House  at  Halle,  I  never  heard 
of  so  many  signal  interpositions  of  divine  Providence.1 

Mon.  22. — It  continued  fair  till  we  came  to  Builth,2  where  I 
preached  to  the  usual  congregation.  Mr.  Phillips  3  then  guided 
us  to  Rhayader,  about  fourteen  English  miles.  It  snowed  hard 
behind  us,  and  on  both  sides,  but  not  at  all  where  we  were. 

Tues.  23. — When  we  took  horse  there  was  nothing  to  be  seen 
but  a  waste  of  white  ;  the  snow  covered  both  hills  and  vales. 
As  we  could  see  no  path,  it  was  not  without  much  difficulty,  as 
well  as  danger,  that  we  went  on.  But  between  seven  and  eight 
the  sun  broke  out  and  the  snow  began  to  melt,  so  we  thought 
all  our  difficulty  was  over,  till,  about  nine,  the  snow  fell  faster 
than  ever.  In  an  hour  it  changed  into  hail,  which,  as  we  rode 
over  the  mountains,  drove  violently  in  our  face.  About  twelve 
this  turned  into  hard  rain,  followed  by  an  impetuous  wind. 
However,  we  pushed  on  through  all,  and  before  sunset  came  to 
Dolgelly. 

Here  we  found  everything  we  wanted  except  sleep,  of  which 
we  were  deprived  by  a  company  of  drunken,  roaring  sea-cap- 
tains, who  kept  possession  of  the  room  beneath  us  till  between 
two  and  three  in  the  morning,  so  that  we  did  not  take  horse 
till  after  six  ;  and  then  we  could  make  no  great  speed,  the  frost 


1  The   foundation   stone   was   laid    in  Welsh  CaJvinistic   Methodism,   by  Rev. 

April    1752.     At  the  end  of  1755  there  William  Williams,  pp.  1 15-21. 

was  a  settled  family  of  about  a  hundred  2  He   preached   both    at    Builth   and 

persons  that  boarded,  worked,  and  slept  Trevecca. 

in  the  house,  and  ten  families  lived  out  3  The  Rev.  Mr.   Phillips,  the  always 

on   farms   in    the  neighbourhood.      See  friendly  rector  of  Maesmynys. 


154  John    Wesley  s  Journal  march  1766. 


being  exceeding  sharp,  and  much  ice  in  the  road.  Hence  we 
were  not  able  to  reach  Tan-y-bwlch  till  between  eleven  and 
twelve.  An  honest  Welshman  here  gave  us  to  know  (though 
he  spoke  no  English)  that  he  was  just  going  over  the  sands. 
So  we  hastened  on  with  him,  and  by  that  means  came  in  good 
time  to  Carnarvon. 

Here  we  passed  a  quiet  and  comfortable  night,  and  took 
horse  about  six  in  the  morning.  Supposing,  after  we  had  rode 
near  an  hour,  that  a  little  house  on  the  other  side  was  the  ferry- 
house,  we  went  down  to  the  water  and  called  amain,  but  we 
could  not  procure  any  answer.  In  the  meantime  it  began  to 
rain  hard,  though  the  wind  was  extremely  high.  Finding  none 
would  come  over,  we  went  to  a  little  church  which  stood  near 
for  shelter.  We  had  waited  about  an  hour  when  a  woman  and 
girl  came  into  the  churchyard,  whom  I  did  not  mind,  supposing 
they  could  speak  no  English.  They  were  following  a  sheep, 
which  ran  close  to  us.  I  then  asked,  '  Is  not  this  Moel-y-don 
Ferry  ?  '  The  girl  answered,  '  Moel-y-don  Ferry  !  No.  The 
Ferry  is  two  miles  further.'  So  we  might  have  called  long 
enough.1  When  we  came  to  Moel-y-don  the  wind  fell,  the  sky 
cleared  up,  the  boat  came  over  without  delay,  and  soon  landed 
us  in  Anglesey.  On  our  way  to  Holyhead  one  met  and 
informed  us  the  packet  sailed  the  night  before.  I  said,  '  Perhaps 
it  may  carry  me  for  all  that.'  So  we  pushed  on,  and  came 
thither  in  the  afternoon.  The  packet  did  sail  the  night  before, 
and  got  more  than  half-sea  over  ;  but,  the  wind  turning  against 
them  and  blowing  hard,  they  were  glad  to  get  back  this 
afternoon. 

I  scarce  ever  remember  so  violent  a  storm  as  blew  all  the 
night  long.     The  wind  continued  contrary  the  next  day. 

Sun.  28. — About  nine  in  the  morning  1  spent  some  time 
with  a  few  serious  people,  and  gave  notice  of  preaching  at  four 
in  the  afternoon,  as  soon  as  the  evening  service  was  ended. 
It  began  soon  after  three.  Ten  minutes  before  four  Mr.  D. 
began  catechizing  the  children  in  Welsh.  I  stayed  till  after 
five.  As  there  was  no  sign  of  his  concluding,  I  then  went 
home,  and  found  the  people  waiting,  to  whom  I  expounded 
those  solemn   words,  '  Watch  and   pray  always,  that  ye   may 


See  above,  vol.  iii.  p.  31 1. 


April  1766.1 


In  Dublin  155 


be  counted  worthy  to  escape  all  these  things  which  are  coming 
upon  the  earth.' 

Mon.  29. — We  left  the  harbour  about  twelve,  having  six  or 
seven  officers  and  abundance  of  passengers  on  board.  The 
wind  was  full  west,  and  there  was  great  probability  of  a  stormy 
night.  So  it  was  judged  best  to  put  back  ;  but  one  gentleman 
making  a  motion  to  try  a  little  longer,  in  a  short  time  brought 
all  over  to  his  opinion.  So  they  agreed  to  go  out  and  '  look 
for  a  wind.' 

The  wind  continued  westerly  all  the  night.  Nevertheless,  in 
the  morning  we  were  within  two  leagues  of  Ireland  !  Between 
nine  and  ten  I  landed  at  Howth,  and  walked  on  for  Dublin. 
The  congregation  in  the  evening  was  such  as  I  never  saw  here 
before.     I  hope  this  also  is  a  token  for  good. 

Wed.  31. — In  conversing  with  many,  I  was  surprised  to  find 
that  all  Ireland  is  in  perfect  safety.1  None  here  has  any  more 
apprehension  of  an  invasion  than  of  being  swallowed  up  in  the 
sea,  every  one  being  absolutely  assured  that  the  French  dare 
not  attempt  any  such  thing. 

APRIL  i,  Tkur. — I  bought  one  or  two  books  at  Mr.  Smith's2 
on  the  Blind  Quay.  I  wanted  change  for  a  guinea,  but  he  could 
not  give  it,  so  I  borrowed  some  silver  of  my  companion.  The 
next  evening  a  young  gentleman  came  from  Mr.  Smith's  to  tell 


1  See  Crookshank.  Hist,  of  Methodism  to  fail.  The  situation  was  eventually 
in  Ireland,  vol.  i.  p.  107.  Wesley  had  not  saved,  after  great  losses,  by  the  accession 
been  in  Ireland  since  the  autumn  of  to  power  of  William  Pitt.  Although 
1752.  He  came  now — though,  to  his  Wesley  only  occasionally  alludes  to  pub- 
great  surprise,  the  Irish  did  not  seem  to  lie  affairs  in  his  Journal,  and  never  dwells 
be  aware  of  it — in  a  time  of  political  at  length  on  them,  it  is  impossible  to 
unrest  and  grave  national  peril.  In  1755  understand  his  allusions  or  to  appreciate 
the  French  ambassador  had  been  recalled  the  difficulties  of  the  situation  or  the 
from  London,  and  the  English  ambas-  importance  of  the  influence  Methodism 
sador  from  Paris.  Formidable  naval  was  increasingly  wielding  over  the 
preparations  were  made  at  Brest.  With-  national  character  unless  we  vividly 
out  formal  declaration,  England  and  remember  what  was  happening  outside 
France  were  practically  at  war  in  the  the  ring-fence  of  the  Methodist  societies. 
New  World  and  in  India.  In  1756  began  Unconsciously,  but  very  really,  as  modern 
the  Seven  Years  War,  when  England  historians  clearly  see,  John  Wesley  was 
joined  Frederick  of  Prussia  against  in  alliance  with  William  Pitt  to  save  the 
France,   Austria,   Saxony,    and    Russia.  nation. 

The   reins   of    government   in   England  2  Mr.  L.    Smith,    bookseller,   who   in 

were  in  hands  inadequate  to  the  strain.  1728  resided  at  the  '  Philosophers' Heads.' 

The  hearts  of  English  statesmen  began  Blind  Quay. 

VOL.    IV  IO 


156  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [Aprurr56. 

me  I   had  left  a  guinea  on  his  counter.     Such  an   instance  of 
honesty  I  have  rarely  met  with,  either  in  Bristol  or  London. 

Sat.  3.1 — I  went  to  the  college  chapel,  at  which  about  forty 
persons  were  present.  [Dr.  James  Knight]  preached  a  plain, 
practical  sermon,  after  which  the  sacrament  was  administered. 
I  never  saw  so  much  decency  at  any  chapel  in  Oxford,  no,  not 
even  at  Lincoln  College.  Scarce  any  person  stirred  or  coughed 
or  spit  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  the  service. 

In  the  evening  our  house  was  crowded  above  and  below,  yet 
many  were  obliged  to  stand  without.  The  whole  congregation 
appeared  staid  and  solid.  Do  even  the  people  of  Dublin  know 
the  day  of  their  visitation  ? 

Mon.  5. — Inquiring  for  one  whom  I  saw  three  or  four  days 
ago  in  the  height  of  a  violent  pleurisy,  I  found  he  was  perfectly 
recovered  and  returned  into  the  country.  A  brimstone-plaster 
in  a  few  minutes  took  away  both  the  pain  and  the  fever.  Oh 
why  will  physicians  play  with  the  lives  of  their  patients  ?  Do 
not  others  (as  well  as  old  Dr.  Cockburn) 2  know  that  '  no  end  is 
answered  by  bleeding  in  a  pleurisy  which  may  not  be  much 
better  answered  without  it '  ?  3 

To-night  the  sleepers  here  began  to  open  their  eyes,  it  being 
rumoured  that  an  express  was  come  to  the  Lord-Lieutenant  to 
inform  him  the  French  were  hastening  their  preparation,  being 
determined  to  land  in  Ireland.  And  so  they  will  if  God  gives 
them  leave  ;  but  He  has  the  reins  in  His  own  hand. 

Tues.  6. —  One  was  informing  me  of  an  eminent  instance  of 
the  power  of  faith.  '  Many  years  ago,'  said  she,  '  I  fell  and 
sprained  my  ankle  so  that  I  never  expected  it  would  be  quite 
well.  Seven  years  since  last  September  I  was  coming  home 
from  the  preaching  in  a  very  dark  night,  and,  stumbling  over 
a  piece  of  wood,  fell  with  the  whole  weight  of  my  body  upon 
my  lame  foot.  I  thought,  "  O  Lord,  I  shall  not  be  able  to  hear 
Thy  word  again  for  many  weeks  !  "  Immediately  a  voice  went 
through  my  heart,  "  Name  the  name  of  Christ,  and  thou  shalt 
stand."     I  leaped  up  and  stretched  out  my  foot  and  said,  "  Lord 


1  It  is  suggested  that  this  may  be  an  2  Charles  Wesley's  old  school-fellow, 

error  for  Sunday  the  4th.     See  W.H.S.       See  index  to  Charles  Wesley's  Journal, 
vol.  v.  p.  70.  3  Cf.  below,  p.  196. 


April  1756. 


In  Dublin  1 5  7 


Jesus  Christ,  I  name  Thy  name  ;  let  me  stand  ! "  And  my 
pain  ceased,  and  I  stood  up,  and  my  foot  was  as  strong  as  ever.' 

Fri.  9.— I  spent  an  hour  with  Dr.  F ,  a  sensible,  agreeable 

man.     He  said  :  '  Six  weeks  ago  the  informed  the  Lord- 

L[ieutenant]  that  he  had  express  orders  from  his  Majesty  to 
put  this  kingdom  in  a  posture  of  defence  against  the  intended 
invasion,  and  he  was  empowered  to  raise  what  men  he  pleased. 
And  nothing  has  ever  been  done  since ;  so  that  we  conclude  the 
whole  to  be  a  grimace,  a  mere  trick  of  State.' x 

Sun.  n.  —  I  met  about  a  hundred  children,  who  are  cate- 
chized publicly  twice  a  week.  Thomas  Walsh  began  this  some 
months  ago,  and  the  fruit  of  it  appears  already.  What  a  pity 
that  all  our  preachers  in  every  place  have  not  the  zeal  and 
wisdom  to  follow  his  example  ! 

Tues.  13. —  I  breakfasted  with  one  of  the  most  lovely  old 
men  I  ever  saw :  John  Garret,2  a  Dutchman  by  birth,  and  a 
speaker  among  the  Quakers. 

Thence  we  went  to  a  poor  dying  backslider.  When  we  came 
in  he  was  crying  to  God  out  of  the  deep  ;  but  before  we  left 
him  his  heaviness  was  gone,  and  he  desired  nothing  but  to  be 
with  Christ. 

Wed.  14. — I  looked  over  a  celebrated  book,  The  Fable  of  the 
Bees?  Till  now  I  imagined  there  had  never  appeared  in 
the  world  such  a  book  as  the  works  of  Machiavel.  But 
de  Mandeville  goes  far  beyond  it.  The  Italian  only  recom- 
mends a  few  vices,  as  useful  to  some  particular  men  and  on 
some  particular  occasions.  But  the  Englishman  loves  and 
cordially  recommends  vice  of  every  kind  ;  not  only  as  useful 
now  and  then,  but  as  absolutely  necessary  at  all  times  for  all 
communities  !  Surely  Voltaire  would  hardly  have  said  so  much  ; 
and  even  Mr.  Sandeman  could  not  have  said  more. 

Fri.  16  (being  Good  Friday). — Near  four  hundred  of  the 
society    met,    to    follow    the     example    of    their    brethren    in 


1  On  Saturday,  April  10,  he  preached  See  also    W.H.S.   vol.   ii.  p.    129,    and 

at  Dublin.  Crookshank's    Methodism     in     Ireland, 

■  See  Charles  Wesley's  Journal,  Oct.  7,  vol.  i.  p.  123. 

1748.     Gharrett  van  Hessen,  1695,  came  s  Or,    Private    Vices   Public  Benefits. 

to  Ireland  in    1707;    he    died   in  1765.  See  W.H.S.  vol.  iv.  p.  108. 
Friends'  Historical  Society,  vol.  iii.  p.  2. 


158  John   Wesley  s  Journal  rApmi756. 

England,  and  renew  their  covenant  with  God.     It  was  a  solemn 
hour.     Many  mourned  before  God,  and  many  were  comforted.1 

In  the  following  week  all  our  preachers  met.2  I  never 
before  found  such  unanimity  among  them.  They  appeared 
now  to  be  not  only  of  one  heart,  but  likewise  of  one  mind  and 
judgement. 

Sun.  25. — One  of  the  Germans  stumbled  in  while  I  was 
expounding, '  Is  Christ  the  minister  of  sin  ?  '  For  a  time  she 
seemed  greatly  diverted  ;  but  the  application  spoiled  her  mirth. 
She  soon  hung  down  her  head,  and  felt  the  difference  between 
the  chaff  and  the  wheat. 

Mon.  26. — I  set  out  for  Cork,  purposing  to  see  as  many 
societies  as  I  could  in  my  way.  In  the  afternoon  I  came  to 
Edenderry,  where  the  little  society  have  built  a  commodious 
preaching-house.  I  had  designed  to  preach  abroad  ;  but  the 
keen  north  wind  drove  us  into  the  house.  The  congregation 
(though  they  had  no  previous  notice)  filled  it  from  end  to  end  ; 
but  some  of  them  found  it  too  hot,  and  hurried  out  while  I 
applied  'Ye  must  be  born  again.' 

About  this  time  I  received  the  following  letter  : 

Reverend  Sir, 

I  once,  through  the  influence  of  those  about  me,  was  ready 
to  join  the  common  cry  against  you,  not  knowing  what  I  did ;  but 
since,  by  hearing  your  discourses,  with  some  of  Mr.  Walsh's,  and  by 
reading  your  Sermons  and  Appeals,  I  have  learned  a  better  lesson.  I 
have  learned  that  true  Christianity  consists,  not  in  a  set  of  opinions,  or 
of  forms  and  ceremonies,  but  in  holiness  of  heart  and  life — in  a 
thorough  imitation  of  our  divine  Master.  And  this  I  take  to  be  the 
doctrine  of  the  Church  of  England ;  nor  do  I  apprehend  you  differ 
from  her  at  all  in  doctrine.  And  I  am  grieved  to  know  you  have  too 
much  cause  to  differ  from  many  of  her  present  clergy.  Why  then 
should  I  cavil  at  you  for  feeding  those  sheep  that  are  starved  by  their 
own  shepherds  ?  for  endeavouring  to  recover  them  from  that  stupid 
lethargy  and  open  wickedness  which  involve  the  generality  of  mankind  ? 
This  is  your  happiness  :  would  to  God  it  could  be  mine  !  I  have  often 
had  a  strong  desire  for  it ;  and  would  now  gladly  dedicate  my  life  to  it, 


1  On  April  19  he  wrote  to  Blackwell.  vasion  said  to  be  a  trick  to  get  money.' 

He   reports  'no   fortifying  of  sea-ports  ;  (JVoris,  vol.  xii.  p.  184.) 

no  military  preparations ;    but  all   is   in  2  The    second    Irish     Conference,    at 

absolute    peace  and   safety — talk   of  in-  which    Mark  Davis  was  received. 


April  1766.1 


In  Ireland  1 59 


if  my  poor  abilities  and  mean  education,  together  with  the  twenty-third 
Article  of  our  Church,  did  not  crush  the  thought.  However,  as  I  do 
not  see  you  vary  from  the  doctrine  of  the  Church,  I  should  not  scruple 
to  join  with  you.  My  chief  motives  (beside  that  strong  desire)  are : 
First,  I  reflect,  there  is  scarce  a  situation  in  life,  at  least  in  the  trading 
world,  without  its  attendant  frauds  or  vices,  which  are  now  scarce 
separable  from  it.  Secondly,  I  am  at  present  of  no  use  in  society  ;  so 
that,  on  account  of  any  advantage  that  now  accrues  from  me  to  the 
public,  I  need  not  scruple  giving  myself  to  my  darling  employment. 
Thirdly,  I  am  convinced  a  man  may  instruct  and  reform  himself  by 
instructing  and  reforming  others.  But  may  I  attempt  this  otherwise 
than  by  the  ordinary  method  of  admitting  labourers  into  the  Lord's 
vineyard  ?  Your  thoughts  on  this  subject  would  be  received  as  a 
singular  favour ;  for  which  I  shall  impatiently  wait,  who  am, 
Reverend  Sir, 

Your  affectionate  and  ready  servant. 

Wed.  28. — I  rode  to  Tullamore,  where  one  of  the  society, 
Edward  Willis,  gave  me  a  very  surprising  account  of  himself. 
He  said  : 

When  I  was  about  twenty  years  old  I  went  to  Waterford  for 
business.  After  a  few  weeks  I  resolved  to  leave  it,  and  packed  up 
my  things  in  order  to  set  out  the  next  morning.  This  was  Sunday  ; 
but  my  landlord  pressed  me  much  not  to  go  till  the  next  day.  In  the 
afternoon  we  walked  out  together,  and  went  into  the  river.  After  a 
while,  leaving  him  near  the  shore,  I  struck  out  into  the  deep.  I 
soon  heard  a  cry,  and,  turning,  saw  him  rising  and  sinking  in  the 
channel  of  the  river.  I  swam  back  with  all  speed,  and,  seeing  him 
sink  again,  dived  down  after  him.  When  I  was  near  the  bottom,  he 
clasped  his  arm  round  my  neck,  and  held  me  so  fast  that  I  could  not 
rise.  Seeing  death  before  me,  all  my  sins  came  into  my  mind,  and  I 
faintly  called  for  mercy.  In  a  while  my  senses  went  away,  and  I 
thought  I  was  in  a  place  full  of  light  and  glory,  with  abundance  of 
people.  While  I  was  thus,  he  who  held  me  died,  and  I  floated  up  to 
the  top  of  the  water.  I  then  immediately  came  to  myself,  and  swam 
to  the  shore,  where  several  stood  who  had  seen  us  sink,  and  said  they 
never  knew  such  a  deliverance  before ;  for  I  had  been  under  water  full 
twenty  minutes.  It  made  me  more  serious  for  two  or  three  months. 
Then  I  returned  to  all  my  sins. 

But  in  the  midst  of  all,  I  had  a  voice  following  me  everywhere, 
'  When  an  able  minister  of  the  gospel  comes,  it  will  be  well  with  thee ! ' 
Some  years  after  I  entered  into  the  army ;  our  troop  lay  at  Philipstown. 


1 60  John   Wesley  s  Journal  rway  1756. 

when  Mr.  W.  came.1  I  was  much  affected  by  his  preaching,  but  not 
so  as  to  leave  my  sins.  The  voice  followed  me  still ;  and  when 
Mr.  J.  W.  came,  before  I  saw  him,  I  had  an  unspeakable  conviction 
that  he  was  the  man  I  looked  for ;  and  soon  after  I  found  peace  with 
God,  and  it  was  well  with  me  indeed.' 

Thur.  29. — I  preached  on  one  side  of  the  market-place  to  a 
numerous  congregation.  I  was  afterwards  invited  by  some  of 
the  officers  to  spend  an  hour  with  them  at  the  barracks.  It  at 
least  freed  them  from  prejudice  against  the  present  work  of  God, 
if  it  answered  no  further  end. 

Fri.  30. — I  was  pressed  to  turn  aside  to  Athlone,  a  gentle- 
woman of  Barbados,2  who  was  obliged  to  return  thither  shortly, 
having  a  great  desire  to  see  me.  So  I  went  to  Athlone,  and 
spent  one  or  two  hours  in  close  conversation  with  her  and  her 
husband.  We  had  a  comfortable  meeting  in  the  evening,  and 
most  of  the  gentry  in  the  town  were  present ;  but  who  can  warn 
them  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come  ?  They  are  '  increased  in 
goods,  and  need  nothing.' 

May  1,  Sat. — I  rode  to  Birr3  through  rain,  hail,  and  snow 
such  as  is  usual  on  the  first  of  January.  I  had  designed  to 
preach  abroad,  but  the  wind  was  too  sharp  to  be  borne  either  by 
me  or  the  people. 

Sun.  2. — We  rode  to  Mountmellick.  About  five  I  preached 
in  the  market-place.  I  was  on  the  point  of  concluding,  when  a 
violent  storm  came.     Till  then  the  bottles  of  heaven  were  stayed. 

Tues.  4. — We  rode  to  Portarlington,  where,  on  Wednesday 
the  5th,  at  the  desire  of  several  who  could  not  attend  the 
early  preaching,  I  preached  in  the  assembly-room  at  ten,  on 
'  Ye  must  be  born  again.'  Many  of  the  best  in  the  town 
(so  called)  were  present,  and  seemed  not  a  little  amazed.  Many 
more  came  in  the  evening,  among  whom  I  found  an  unusual 
liberty  of  spirit.  For  the  present  most  of  them  seemed  much 
affected.     But  how  soon  will  the  thorns  grow  up  ? 

Thur.  6. — I  rode  to  Kilkenny.      One  of  the  Dragoons4  who 


1  Probably  'W.'  should  be  Wesley  (see  1  The   soldiers   then    in  Ireland  were 

above,  vol.  iii.  p.  339),  and  'J.  W.'  is  a  mostly  English  Protestants.     They  were 

misprint  for  T.  W.,  i.e.  T.   Walsh.  rarely,  if  ever,   hostile,  but  sympathized 

■  See  below,  p.  292.  with  Wesley  when  furious  mobs  attacked 

3  Parsonstown.  him  or  his  people. 


May  1756.1 


In  Ireland  1 6 1 


were  quartered  here  soon  found  us  out.  A  few,  both  of  the 
army  and  of  the  town,  are  joined,1  and  constantly  meet  together. 
I  preached  in  the  barracks,  in  one  of  the  officers'  rooms.  Still, 
in  Ireland,  the  first  call  is  to  the  soldiery. 

Fri.  7. — We  rode  to  Waterford,  where,  after  preaching, 
I  earnestly  exhorted  the  society  to  '  love  as  brethren.'  On 
the  same  subject  I  preached  in  the  morning,  and  spent  great 
part  of  the  day  in  striving  to  remove  misunderstandings  and 
offences.  It  was  not  lost  labour.  Six-and-twenty  were  left 
in  the  morning  ;  before  night  seven-and-fifty  were  joined  to- 
gether. 

T[homas]  Walsh  preached  at  five,  but,  the  room  being  too 
small,  they  were  obliged  to  go  into  the  yard.  In  the  evening  we 
had  high  and  low,  rich  and  poor,  both  in  the  yard  and  adjoining 
gardens.  There  seemed  now  to  be  a  general  call  to  this  city, 
so  I  thought  it  best  the  next  morning,  Monday  the  10th,  to  leave 
Mr.  Walsh  there,  while  I  went  forward  to  Clonmel,  the  pleasantest 
town,  beyond  all  comparison,  which  I  have  yet  seen  in  Ireland. 
It  has  four  broad,  straight  streets  of  well-built  houses,  which 
cross  each  other  in  the  centre  of  the  town.  Close  to  the  walls, 
on  the  south  side,  runs  a  broad,  clear  river.  Beyond  this  rises 
a  green  and  fruitful  mountain,  and  hangs  over  the  town.  The 
vale  runs  many  miles  both  east  and  west,  and  is  well  cultivated 
throughout. 

I  preached  at  five  in  a  large  loft,  capable  of  containing  five 
or  six  hundred  people  ;  but  it  was  not  full,  many  being  afraid 
of  its  falling,  as  another  did  some  years  before,  by  which  several 
of  the  hearers  were  much  hurt,  and  one  so  bruised  that  she  died 
in  a  few  days. 

Tues.  11. — I  was  at  a  loss  where  to  preach,  the  person  who 
owned  the  loft  refusing  to  let  me  preach  there  or  even  in  the 
yard  below.  And  the  commanding  officer,  being  asked  for  the 
use  of  the  barrack-yard,  answered  it  was  not  a  proper  place. 
'  Not,'  said  he,  '  that  I  have  any  objection  to  Mr.  Wesley. 
I  will  hear  him  if  he  preaches  under  the  gallows.'  It  remained 
to  preach  in  the  street ;  and  by  this  means  the  congregation 
was  more  than  doubled.       Both  the  officers  and   soldiers   gave 


1  i.e.  united  in  the  membership  of  the  society. 


1 62  John    Wesley  s  Journal  (Mayi7B6. 

great  attention  till  a  poor  man,  special  drunk,  came  marching 
down  the  street,  attended  by  a  Popish  mob,  with  a  club  in  one 
hand  and  a  large  cleaver  in  the  other,  grievously  cursing  and 
blaspheming,  and  swearing  he  would  cut  off  the  preacher's  head. 
It  was  with  difficulty  that  I  restrained  the  troopers,  especially 
them  that  were  not  of  the  society.  When  he  came  nearer  the 
mayor  stepped  out  of  the  congregation  and  strove  by  good 
words  to  make  him  quiet,  but  he  could  not  prevail  ;  on  which  he 
went  into  his  house  and  returned  with  his  white  wand.  At  the 
same  time  he  sent  for  two  constables,  who  presently  came  with 
their  staves.  He  charged  them  not  to  strike  the  man  unless  he 
struck  first  ;  but  this  he  did  immediately,  as  soon  as  they  came 
within  his  reach,  and  wounded  one  of  them  in  the  wrist.  On 
this  the  other  knocked  him  down,  which  he  did  three  times 
before  he  would  submit.  The  mayor  then  walked  before, 
the  constables  on  either  hand,  and  conducted  him  to  the 
jail. 

Wed.  12. — In  the  evening  I  preached  in  the  new  house  l  at 
Cork,  very  near  as  large  as  that  in  Dublin,2  and  far  better 
finished  in  every  respect,  though  at  four  hundred  pounds  less 
expense. 

Mon.  17. — Walking  up  the  Red  House  Walk  (which  runs 
between  two  rows  of  meadows,  with  the  river  winding  through 
them,  and  a  chain  of  fruitful  hills  on  the  right  hand  and  on  the 
left),  I  saw  the  plain  reason  why  strangers  usually  complain  of 
the  unwholesomeness  of  the  water  in  Cork.  Many  women 
were  filling  vessels  with  river  water  (which  is  that  commonly 
used  in  the  city  for  tea  and  most  other  purposes)  when  the 
tide  was  at  the  height.  Now,  although  this  is  not  salt,  yet 
it  cannot  but  affect  both  the  stomach  and  bowels  of  tender 
persons. 

Wed.  19. — I  preached  in  the  evening  on  '  Christ  crucified,  to 
the  Jews  a  stumbling-block,  and  to  the  Greeks  foolishness.' 
While  I  was  speaking,  a  gentleman  in  the  gallery  cried  out 
with  a  loud  voice,  and  swore  to  it,  '  I  am  of  the  Church  ;  I  stand 
up  for  the  Church  ;   I  will  shed  my  blood  for  the  Church.'      But, 


1  In  Hammond's  Marsh.     Like  the  houses  at  Dublin,  Bristol,  and  Newcastle,  it 
had  rooms  overhead.  2  In  Whitefriar  Street. 


May  1756.]  I*  Ireland  163 


finding  none  to  contradict  him,  he  sat  down,  and   I   finished  my 
discourse. 

Thur.  20. — One  came  in  a  great  consternation  to  inform 
us,  Captain  F.  (the  gentleman  who  spoke)  was  raising  a  mob 
against  the  evening.  This  report  spread  up  and  down,  and 
greatly  increased  the  evening  congregation.  But  no  mob 
appeared,  nor  was  there  any  disturbance,  but  such  a  blessing  as 
we  have  seldom  found  :  I  suppose,  in  answer  to  the  prayers  of 
many  who  had  been  earnestly  crying  unto  God.1 

On  Sunday  last  I  was  desired  by  one  to  call  on  her  dying 
father,  though  she  said  he  was  speechless  and  senseless.  But 
as  soon  as  I  spoke,  he  appeared  sensible  ;  while  we  prayed, 
he  recovered  his  speech.  The  next  day  he  was  able  to  walk 
abroad,  but  continued  deeply  serious.  On  Friday  the  21st  his 
illness  returned,  and  he  lay  down  and  died  in  peace. 

Mon.  24. — I  preached  in  the  market-place  at  Kinsale. 

Tues.  25. — I  walked  to  the  Fort.  It  commands  the  entrance 
of  the  harbour,  and  has  three  tier  of  guns,  one  over  the  other. 
It  is  built  upon  the  firm  rock  ;  is  of  a  large  extent,  and  the 
upper  part  of  a  great  height  from  the  water.  But  all  is  out  of 
repair  ;  many  of  the  cannon  are  dismounted  ;  most  of  them 
unfit  for  service ;  so  that  many  think  a  second-rate  man-of-war 
might  take  it  in  a  few  hours'  time. 

At  one  I  preached  in  the  Exchange.  Abundance  of  soldiers, 
and  the  colonel,  with  several  officers,  were  present  ;  so  that  I 
conceived  some  hopes  that  the  seed  sown  even  at  Kinsale  will 
not  all  be  lost. 

At  five  I  preached  in  the  market-house  at  Inishannon  to 
a  very  large  and  well-behaved  congregation,  and  then  went  on 
to  Bandon. 

Fri.  28. — I  rode  out  with  Mrs.  Jones,2  as  I  did  every  day, 
to  save  her  life  if  possible.  From  the  hill  we  had  a  fair  view  of 
Castle  Bernard,  with  the  park  adjoining  ;  in  which,  a  few  years 
ago,  Judge  Bernard  3  used  to  take  such  delight.     Indeed,  it  is  a 


1  During   this  visit  Wesley  met  John  above,  vol.   iii.  pp.  2i6,   313   and   330, 

Trembath.      He  had  married  again,  and  and  Crookshank,  vol.  i.  p.    109. 

had   profited    spiritually   from   Wesley's  'l  See  above,  vol.  iii.  p.  470. 

faithful  dealing  and  through  trials.      He  3  Died  in  1721  ;  great-grandfather  of 

became  a  local  preacher  in  Cork.     See  Francis,  first  Earl  of  Bandon. 


164  John    Wesley  s  Journal  rMayi766. 

beautiful  place  in  every  respect.  The  house  is  one  of  the  most 
elegant  I  have  seen  in  the  kingdom,  both  as  to  the  structure 
and  the  situation  ;  standing  on  the  side  of  a  fruitful  hill,  and 
having  a  full  command  of  the  vale,  the  river,  and  the  opposite 
mountain.  The  ground  near  the  house  is  laid  out  with  the 
finest  taste,  in  gardens  of  every  kind  ;  with  a  wilderness,  canals, 
fish-ponds,  waterworks,  and  rows  of  trees  in  various  forms.  The 
park  includes  part  of  each  hill,  with  the  river  between,  running 
through  the  meadow  and  lawns,  which  are  tufted  over  with  trees 
of  every  kind,  and  every  now  and  then  a  thicket  or  grove.  The 
Judge  finished  his  plan,  called  the  land  after  his  name,  and 
dropped  into  the  dust ! 

Sun.  30. — I  returned  to  Cork.  About  that  time  I  received 
a  letter  from  Mr.  Gillies,  part  of  which  follows  : 

The  Lord  hath  been  pleased  to  inflict  a  heavy  stroke  upon  us  by 
calling  home  His  faithful  servant  Mr.  Wardrobe.1  Concerning  his 
death  a  Christian  friend  writes  thus : 

'  May  7,  four  in  the  morning. — I  am  just  come  from  witnessing  the 
last  sighs  of  one  dear  to  you,  to  me,  and  to  all  that  knew  him. 
Mr.  Wardrobe  died  last  night.  He  was  seized  on  Sabbath  last,  just  as 
he  was  going  to  the  kirk,  with  a  most  violent  colic,  which  terminated  in 
a  mortification  of  his  bowels.  The  circumstances  of  his  death  are 
worthy  to  be  recorded.  With  what  pleasure  he  received  the  message, 
and  went  off  in  all  the  triumph  of  a  conqueror;  crying  out,  "My 
warfare  is  accomplished  :  I  have  fought  the  good  fight ;  my  victory  is 
completed.  Crowns  of  grace  shall  adorn  this  head  (taking  off  his  cap), 
and  palms  be  put  into  these  hands.  Yet  a  little  while,  and  I  shall  sing 
for  ever.  I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth."  When  he  was  within  a 
few  moments  of  his  last  he  gave  me  his  hand,  and  a  little  after  said, 
"  Now  lettest  Thou  Thy  servant  depart  in  peace ;  for  mine  eyes  have 
seen  Thy  salvation."  Were  I  to  repeat  half  what  he  spoke  I  should 
write  you  three  hours.  It  shall  suffice  at  this  time  to  say  that,  as  he 
lived  the  life,  so  he  died  the  death,  of  a  Christian.  We  weep  not  for 
him  ;  we  weep  for  ourselves.  I  wish  we  may  know  how  to  improve 
this  awful  judgement  so  as  to  be  also  ready,  not  knowing  when  our 
Lord  cometh.' 

Mr.  Adams,  minister  of  Falkirk,  writes  thus  : 

On  Friday  night,  about  ten,  I  witnessed  Mr.  Wardrobe's  (of  Bath- 
gate)  entrance   into   the  joy   of  his    Lord.     But,  ah  !   who  can  help 

1  See  above,  p.  1 16. 


June  1786. ' 


///  Ireland  165 


mourning  the  loss  to  the  Church  of  Christ  ?  His  amiable  character 
gave  him  a  distinguished  weight  and  influence,  which  his  Lord  had 
given  him  to  value  only  for  its  subserviency  to  His  honour  and  glory. 
He  was  suddenly  taken  ill  on  the  last  Lord's  Day,  and  from  the  first 
moment  believed  it  was  for  death.  I  went  to  see  him  on  Thursday 
evening,  and  heard  some  of  the  liveliest  expressions  of  triumphant 
faith,  zeal  for  the  glory  of  Christ  and  the  salvation  of  souls,  mixed  with 
the  most  amiable  humility  and  modesty.  '  Yet  a  little  while,'  said  he, 
'  and  this  mortal  shall  put  on  immortality.  Mortality  shall  be  swallowed 
up  of  life ;  this  vile  body  fashioned  like  to  His  glorious  body.  Oh  for 
the  victory !  I  shall  get  the  victory.  I  know  in  whom  I  have 
believed.'  Then,  with  a  remarkably  audible  voice,  lifting  up  his  hands, 
he  cried  out,  '  Oh  for  a  draught  of  the  well  of  the  water  of  life,  that  I 
may  begin  the  song  before  I  go  off  to  the  Church  triumphant !  I  go 
forth  in  Thy  name,  making  mention  of  Thy  righteousness,  even  Thine 
only.  I  die  at  the  feet  of  mercy.'  Then,  stretching  out  his  arms,  he 
put  his  hand  upon  his  head,  and  with  the  most  serene  and  steady, 
majestic  eye  I  ever  saw,  looking  upward,  he  said,  '  Crowns  of  grace, 
crowns  of  grace,  and  palms  in  their  hands  !  O  Lord  God  of  truth,  into 
Thy  hands  I  commend  my  spirit ! '  After  an  unexpected  revival,  he 
said,  '  Oh,  I  fear  His  tarrying,  lest  the  prospect  become  more  dark.  I 
sometimes  fear  He  may  spare  me  to  live,  and  be  less  faithful  than  He 
has  helped  me  to  be  hitherto.'  He  says  to  me,  '  You  that  are  ministers, 
bear  a  proper  testimony  against  the  professors  of  this  age,  who  have 
a  form  of  godliness  without  the  power.'  Observing  some  of  his  people 
about  his  bed,  he  said,  '  May  I  have  some  seals  among  you  !  Oh 
where  will  the  ungodly  and  sinners  of  Bathgate  appear  ?  Labour  all  to 
be  in  Christ.'  Then  he  stretched  out  his  hand  to  several,  and  said, 
'  Farewell,  farewell,  farewell !  And  now,  O  Lord,  what  wait  I  for  ? 
My  hope  is  in  Thee  ! '  Once  or  twice  he  said,  '  Let  me  be  laid  across 
the  bed  to  expire,  where  I  have  sometimes  prayed,  and  sometimes 
meditated  with  pleasure.'  He  expressed  his  grateful  sense  of  the 
assiduous  care  which  Mr.  Wardrobe,  of  Cult,  had  taken  of  him ;  and 
on  his  replying,  '  Too  much  could  not  be  done  for  so  valuable  a  life,' 
he  said,  '  Oh  speak  not  so,  or  you  will  provoke  God !  Glory  be  to 
God  that  I  have  ever  had  any  regard  paid  me  for  Christ's  sake ! '  I  am 
greatly  sunk  under  the  event.  O  help  me,  by  your  prayers,  to  get  the 
proper  submission  and  improvement ! 1 

June  3,  Thur. — I  received  a  remarkable  letter  from  a 
clergyman  with  whom  I  had  been  a  day  or  two  before.  Part 
of  it  ran  thus  : 


Tuesday,  June  I,  Wesley  preached  at  Cork. 


1 66  John   Wesley  s  Journal  uune  1766. 

I   had   the   following   account   from    the    gentlewoman  herself,  a 

person  of  piety  and  veracity.     She  is  now  the  wife  of  Mr.  J B , 

silversmith,  in  Cork  : 

'  About  thirty  years  ago  I  was  addressed,  by  way  of  marriage,  by  Mr. 
Richard  Mercier,  then  a  volunteer  in  the  army.  The  young  gentleman 
was  quartered  at  that  time  in  Charleville,  where  my  father  lived,  who 
approved  of  his  addresses,  and  directed  me  to  look  upon  him  as  my 
future  husband.  When  the  regiment  left  the  town  he  promised  to 
return  in  two  months  and  marry  me.  From  Charleville  he  went  to 
Dublin,  thence  to  his  father's,  and  from  thence  to  England,  where, 
his  father  having  bought  him  a  cornetcy  of  horse,  he  purchased 
many  ornaments  for  the  wedding,  and,  returning  to  Ireland,  let  us  know 
that  he  would  be  at  our  house  in  Charleville  in  a  few  days.  On  this 
the  family  was  busied  to  prepare  for  his  reception  and  the  ensuing 
marriage,  when  one  night,  my  sister  Molly  and  I  being  asleep  in  our 
bed,  I  was  awakened  by  the  sudden  opening  of  the  side-curtain,  and, 
starting  up,  saw  Mr.  Mercier  standing  by  the  bed-side.  He  was 
wrapped  up  in  a  loose  sheet,  and  had  a  napkin  folded  like  a  night-cap 
on  his  head.  He  looked  at  me  very  earnestly,  and,  lifting  up  the 
napkin,  which  much  shaded  his  face,  showed  me  the  left  side  of  his 
head,  all  bloody  and  covered  with  his  brains.  The  room  meantime 
was  quite  light.  My  terror  was  excessive,  which  was  still  increased  by 
his  stooping  over  the  bed  and  embracing  me  in  his  arms.  My  cries 
alarmed  the  whole  family,  who  came  crowding  into  the  room.  Upon 
their  entrance  he  gently  withdrew  his  arms,  and  ascended  as  it  were 
through  the  ceiling.  I  continued  for  some  time  in  strong  fits.  When 
I  could  speak  I  told  them  what  I  had  seen.  One  of  them  a  day  or  two 
after,  going  to  the  postmaster  for  letters,  found  him  reading  the  news- 
papers, in  which  was  an  account  that  Cornet  Mercier,  going  into  Christ 
Church  belfry  in  Dublin  just  after  the  bells  had  been  ringing,  and 
standing  under  the  bells,  one  of  them,  which  was  turned  bottom 
upwards,  suddenly  turning  again,  struck  one  side  of  his  head  and  killed 
him  on  the  spot.  On  further  inquiry  we  found  he  was  struck  on  the 
left  side  of  his  head.' 

Sun.  6. — I  gave  my  last  exhortation  to  the  society  in  Cork, 
and,  setting  out  early  on  Monday  the  7th,  in  the  evening  came  to 
Limerick. 

Sat.  12. — The  account  which  one  of  our  sisters  gave  of  Ann 
Beauchamp  was  as  follows  : 

Aug.  18,  1753. — I  went  to  see  Ann  Beauchamp,1  who  had  been 
ill  for  about  a  week.     I  asked  her  in  what  state  she  found  her  soul. 


1  The  great-aunt  of  the  late  John  Beauchamp,  of  London. 


June  1766. 


In  Ireland  167 


She  answered,  '  I  am  quite  happy.  I  know  that  my  Redeemer  Hveth, 
and  has  taken  away  all  my  sins.  And  my  heart  is  comforted  with 
the  presence  of  God :  I  long  to  die,  that  I  may  be  with  Him.'  I 
asked,  '  But  are  you  resigned  either  to  live  or  die,  as  He  shall  see 
fit  ? '  She  answered,  '  I  cannot  say  I  am  willing  to  live :  it  would 
go  hard  with  me  to  live  now.  Pray  that  the  Lord  may  perfect  His 
work  of  sanctification  in  my  soul.' 

Being  asked  if  she  could  freely  part  with  all  her  friends,  she  said, 
1  Yes.  And,  as  to  my  children,  I  have  cast  them  upon  the  Lord.  I 
know  He  will  take  care  of  them,  and  I  give  them  freely  up  to  Him 
without  one  anxious  thought.'  She  then  prayed  for  her  friends  and 
acquaintances  one  by  one,  and  afterwards,  fervently  and  with  tears,  for 
each  person  in  her  band;  then  for  Mr.  John  Wesley,  desiring  she  might 
be  found  at  his  feet  in  the  day  of  the  Lord. 

Soon  after  she  called  her  mother,  desired  forgiveness  for  anything 
wherein  she  had  ignorantly  offended  her,  and  exhorted  her  not  to 
grieve,  adding,  '  God  will  comfort  you,  and  give  you  strength  to  bear 
your  trial.  It  is  your  loss,  but  it  is  my  everlasting  gain,  and  I  am  going 
but  a  little  before  you.'  She  then  prayed  over  her,  and,  kissing  her, 
took  her  leave.  In  the  same  manner  she  took  leave  of  all  about  her, 
exhorting,  praying  for,  and  kissing  them  one  by  one.  Afterwards  she 
called  for,  and  took  her  leave  of,  her  servants. 

Seeing  one  of  her  neighbours  in  the  room,  she  called  her,  and  said, 
'  O  Mary,  you  are  old  in  years  and  old  in  sin.  The  Lord  has  borne 
long  with  you,  and  you  know  not  the  day  or  the  hour  when  He  will  call 
you.  I  am  young,  and  He  is  calling  me  away,  and  what  should  I  do 
without  an  interest  in  Christ  ?  Was  my  work  now  to  do,  it  would  never 
be  done.  But,  blessed  be  God,  it  is  not.  I  know  the  Lord  hath 
washed  me  from  my  sins  in  His  own  blood,  and  is  preparing  me  for 
Himself.  Oh,  fly  from  the  wrath  to  come,  and  never  rest  till  you  rest 
in  the  wounds  of  Jesus  !  I  am  almost  spent,  but  had  I  strength  I  could 
exhort  you  all  till  morning.' 

To  another  she  said, '  Martha,  Martha  !  thou  art  careful  and  troubled 
about  many  things ;  but  one  thing  is  needful,  and  this  one  thing  you 
have  neglected.  Oh,  seek  God,  and  He  will  supply  all  your  wants.  It 
is  time  for  you  to  begin  ;  your  glass  is  almost  run,  and  what  will  all 
your  toil  profit  when  you  come  to  be  as  I  am  now  ?  Find  time  for 
this,  whatever  goes  undone.  My  neighbours  used  to  wonder  how  I 
could  find  time,  and  think  me  foolish  for  spending  it  so  ;  but  now  I 
know  it  was  not  foolishness.  Soon  I  shall  receive  an  exceeding  great 
reward. 

'  Perhaps  some  of  you  will  say  you  was  never  called.  Then  remem- 
ber, I  call  you  now.  I  exhort  every  one  of  you  to  "  seek  the  Lord 
while  He  may  be  found."     Think  not  to  make  excuses   in  that  day. 


1 68  John    Wesley  s  Journal  f jun,  1756. 

God  will  have  His  witnesses,  and  I  shall  appear  as  a  witness  against 
you.  If  you  repent  not,  these  my  dying  words  will  rise  up  in  judgement 
against  you.' 

To  her she  said,  '  I  forgive  you  all  that  you  have  done  against 

me,  and  I  have  prayed  the  Lord  to  forgive  you.  Return  to  Him  now, 
and  He  will  receive  you,  for  He  desires  not  the  death  of  a  sinner. 
I  am  a  witness  of  this,  for  He  has  forgiven  all  my  sins.  Oh,  I  want 
strength  to  sing  His  praise  !  But  I  am  going  where  I  shall  sing  His 
praise  for  ever.' 

Then,  calling  for  her  husband,  she  said,  '  My  dear,  God  has  given 
you  many  calls,  even  in  dreams ;  and  when  we  will  not  hear  His  call  it 
is  often  His  way  to  make  us  feel  His  rod  by  removing  our  darling  from 
us.  I  was  your  darling,  and,  seeing  you  refused  the  many  calls  of 
God,  He  is  now  taking  me  away  from  you,  if  by  any  means  He 
may  bring  you  to  Himself.'  She  then  prayed  for  and  took  her  leave 
of  him. 

The  next  day,  when  I  came  in  and  asked,  '  How  do  you  find 
yourself  now  ? '  she  answered,  '  Blessed  be  God,  very  well.  I  know 
that  my  Redeemer  lives  :  He  is  dear  to  me,  and  I  am  dear  to  Him. 
I  know  He  is  preparing  me  for  Himself,  and  I  shall  soon  be  with  Him.' 

She  then  prayed  earnestly  for  entire  sanctification,  till,  a  friend 
coming  in,  she  said,  'The  Lord  has  brought  you  and  all  my  dear 
friends  to  my  remembrance ;  I  have  not  forgotten  you  in  my  prayers. 
You  must  come  and  pray  my  last  prayer.  When  you  see  me  near  my 
deliverance,  go  all  to  prayer,  and  continue  therein  till  my  spirit  is  gone. 
Let  there  be  no  crying  over  me,  but  all  of  you  sing  praises  and  rejoice 
over  me.' 

She  never  once  complained  of  her  pain,  but  behaved  from  the 
beginning  with  that  patience,  sweetness,  and  love  to  all  that  bespoke 
a  soul  which  knew  herself  just  entering  into  the  joy  of  her  Lord.  Thus 
she  died  the  next  morning,  August  the  20th,  after  crying  out  as  in 
ecstasy — 

Bold  I  approach  th'  eternal  throne, 

And  claim  the  crown  through  Christ  my  own. 

Wed.  16. — I  rode  over  to  Newmarket  and  preached  to  an 
earnest  congregation  of  poor  people.  In  the  morning,  at  the 
request  of  some  of  the  neighbouring  gentry,  I  deferred  preaching 
till  ten  o'clock.  Many  of  them  were  then  present,  and  seemed 
not  a  little  astonished  ;  perhaps  they  may  remember  it — a  week. 

In  the  afternoon  I  rode  to  Ballingarrane,  a  town  of  Palatines,1 


1  For  the  Palatines  see  Crookshank's  Methodism  'in  Ireland,  vol.  i.  p.  56 ;  also 
below,  pp.  275  and  397. 


June  1766. 


In  Ireland  169 


who  came  over  in  Queen  Anne's  time.  They  retain  much  of 
the  temper  and  manners  of  their  own  country,  having  no 
resemblance  of  those  among  whom  they  live.  I  found  much 
life  among  this  plain,  artless,  serious  people.  The  whole  town 
came  together  in  the  evening,  and  praised  God  for  the  consola- 
tion. Many  of  those  who  are  not  outwardly  joined  with  us 
walk  in  the  light  of  God's  countenance  ;  yea,  and  have  divided 
themselves  into  classes,  in  imitation  of  our  brethren,  with  whom 
they  live  in  perfect  harmony. 

Fri.  18. —  In  examining  the  society  I  was  obliged  to  pause 
several  times.  The  words  of  the  plain,  honest  people  came 
with  so  much  weight  as  frequently  to  stop  me  for  a  while, 
and  raise  a  general  cry  among  the  hearers. 

I  rode  back  through  Adare,  once  a  strong  and  flourishing  town, 
well-walled  and  full  of  people,  now  without  walls  and  almost  with- 
out inhabitants — only  a  few  poor  huts  remain.  At  a  small  distance 
from  these  are  the  ample  ruins  of  three  or  four  convents, 
delightfully  situated  by  the  river,  which  runs  through  a  most 
fruitful  vale. 

Mon.  21. — I  talked  with  one  who  was  in  deep  distress. 
She  had  been  represented  to  me  as  in  despair  ;  but  I  soon 
found  her  disorder  (natural  or  preternatural)  had  nothing  to 
do  with  religion.  She  was  greatly  troubled,  but  knew  not 
why  ;  not  for  her  sins — they  scarce  came  into  her  mind.  I  know 
not  that  prayer  will  avail  for  her  till  she  is  troubled  in  quite 
another  manner — till  she  cries  out,  from  her  inmost  soul,  '  God 
be  merciful  to  me,  a  sinner  ! ' 

Tues.  22. — I  called  on  Mrs.  F.,  whom  I  saw  some  years 
since  in  despair  of  quite  another  kind.  Between  nine  and  ten 
years  ago  her  daughter  married  without  her  consent ;  this  was 
followed  by  other  distressing  circumstances,  in  the  midst  of 
which  she  cried  out,  '  God  has  forsaken  me.'  She  was  immedi- 
ately seized  with  violent  pain  ;  she  could  not  see  the  sun,  or  the 
light,  only  a  dim  twilight  ;  she  could  not  taste  her  meat  or 
drink,  any  more  than  the  white  of  an  egg  ;  she  had  a  constant 
impulse  to  kill  herself,  which  she  believed  she  must  do,  and 
attempted  several  times.  After  having  continued  thus  three 
years  and  a  half,  she  resolved  to  endure  it  no  longer  ;  accord- 
ingly, she    procured    a   knife   to   cut    her   throat,  and    did    cut 


1 70  John   Wesley  s  Journal  rjune  1766. 

through  the  skin,  but  could  get  no  farther  ;  it  seemed  to  her  as 
if  the  flesh  were  iron.  She  threw  down  the  knife,  burst  into 
tears,  fell  upon  her  knees,  and  began  (what  she  had  not  done 
all  the  time)  to  pour  out  her  soul  before  God.  Fear  and  sorrow 
fled  away.  She  rejoiced  in  God  ;  she  saw  the  light  of  the  sun  ; 
her  natural  taste  returned  ;  and  she  has  been  ever  since  in  health 
of  body  and  peace  of  mind. 

Wed.  23. — I  took  my  leave  of  Limerick,  and  rode  to  Six- 
Mile-Bridge.  There  I  left  T[homas]  Walsh  to  preach  in  Irish, 
and  went  on  to  Rathlaheen. 

Thur.  24. — I  went  on  to  Ennis,  a  town  consisting  almost 
wholly  of  Papists,  except  a  few  Protestant  gentlemen.  One 
of  these  (the  chief  person  in  the  town)  had  invited  me  to  his 
house,  and  walked  with  me  to  the  court-house,  where  I  preached 
to  a  huge,  wild,  unawakened  multitude,  Protestants  and  Papists, 
many  of  whom  would  have  been  rude  enough  if  they  durst. 

Fri.  25. — Mr.  Walsh  preached  at  six,  first  in  Irish  and  then 
in  English.  The  Papist  priest  had  contrived  to  have  his  service 
just  at  the  same  hour ;  and  his  man  came  again  and  again  with 
his  bell,  but  not  one  in  ten  of  his  people  would  stir.  At  eight 
I  preached  to  a  far  more  serious  congregation  ;  and  the  word 
seemed  to  sink  into  their  hearts. 

We  took  horse  about  ten,  and  rode  through  the  fruitful  and 
pleasant  county  of  Galway.  After  having  heard  so  much  of 
the  barrenness  of  this  county  I  was  surprised,  in  riding  almost 
the  whole  length  of  it,  from  south-east  to  north-west,  to  find 
only  four  or  five  miles  of  rocky  ground,  like  the  west  of 
Cornwall  ;  all  the  rest  exceeded  most  that  I  have  seen  in 
Ireland.  We  came  to  Galway  pretty  well  tired,  and  would 
willingly  have  rested  at  the  inn  where  we  alighted  from  our 
horses  ;  but  the  landlord  informed  us  he  had  no  room,  both  his 
house  and  stables  were  full.  Two  regiments  of  soldiers,  passing 
through  the  town,  had  taken  up  all  the  inns.  However,  we 
procured  a  private  lodging,  which  was  full  as  agreeable. 

The  town  is  old,  and  not  ill-built,  most  of  the  houses  being 
of  stone,  and  several  stories  high.  It  is  encompassed  with  an 
old,  bad  wall,  and  is  in  no  posture  of  defence,  either  toward  the 
land  or  toward  the  sea.  Such  is  the  supine  negligence  of  both 
English  and  Irish ! 


June  1756.] 


In  Ireland  171 


Five  or  six  persons,  who  seemed  to  fear  God,  came  to  us  at 
our  lodgings.  We  spent  a  little  time  with  them  in  prayer,  and 
early  in  the  morning  set  out  for  Castlebar. 

This  day,  likewise,  I  was  agreeably  surprised  at  the  pleasant- 
ness and  fruitfulness  of  the  country.  About  noon  two  or  three 
friends  met  us  and  begged  us  to  turn  aside  to  Hollymount,  a 
town  twelve  miles  from  Castlebar,  where  the  minister  1  readily 
consented  to  my  preaching  in  the  church.  Many  Papists  as 
well  as  Protestants  were  there,  and  my  heart  was  much  enlarged 
toward  them.  Through  a  delightful  mixture  of  vales  and 
gently  rising  hills,  we  then  rode  on  to  Castlebar. 

Sun.  27. — The  rector2  having  left  word  that  I  should  have 
the  use  of  the  church,  I  preached  there  morning  and  afternoon, 
to  such  a  congregation  as  (they  said)  was  never  there  before  ; 
and  surely  the  word  of  God  had  free  course  ;  I  saw  not  one 
light  or  inattentive  hearer.  Mr.  Walsh  afterward  preached  in 
the  sessions-house,  to  another  large  and  serious  congregation. 
And,  Tuesday  the  29th,  being  St.  Peter's  Day,  I  read  prayers 
and  preached  to  as  large  a  congregation  as  on  Sunday.  In  the 
afternoon  I  rode  over  to  Newport,  eleven  miles  from  Castlebar. 
About  thirty  years  ago,  a  little  company  of  Protestants  settled 
here,  by  a  river-side,  on  the  very  extremity  of  the  land,  and 
built  a  small  town.  It  has  a  fruitful  hill  on  each  side,  and  a 
large  bay  to  the  west,  full  of  small  fertile  islands,  containing 
from  one  to  several  thousand  acres.  Of  these  they  compute 
above  three  hundred,  and  near  a  hundred  are  inhabited  ;  but 
by  Papists  alone,  there  not  being  so  much  as  a  single  Protestant 
among  them  !  I  went  directly  to  the  rector's,3  who  had  before 
given  me  an  invitation.  Between  seven  and  eight  I  preached 
to  (I   suppose)    more    than    all    the    Protestants   in    the    town. 


1  The    Rev.    James    Clark,    rector    of  priety,  doctrinal  orthodoxy,  and  morality 

Hollymount    (Tyerman's    Lift,    vol.    ii.  of  life.       In  a  tender,  but  perfectly  frank 

pp.  373-5.      For   Hollymount   see  Life  fashion,    he  reproves  his   correspondent 

and  Letters  of  Mrs.  Delany).     Wesley's  for  sins  of  drunkenness,  swearing,   and 

letters  to  him  are  worth  reading  ( Works,  temper,  to  which  he  seems  to  have  been 

vol.    xiii.    pp.    210-16).       They  define  more   or  less  addicted.     Cf.  below,  pp. 

'schism,'  'heresy,'  and  Wesley's  views  173  and   268;    see   also  Green's   Anti- 

of  the   relation   of    Methodism    to    the  Methodist  Publications,  pp.  75,  76. 

Anglican  Church,  of  the  religious  law-  a  Rev.  Mr.  Ellison, 

fulness   of  '  lay-preaching,'   and   of    the  3  Rev.  James  Hern, 
relative  importance  of  ecclesiastical  pro- 

VOL.   IV  II 


172  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [juiyi756. 

Deep  attention  sat  on  every  face.  Perhaps  God  touched 
some  hearts. 

Wed.  30. — At  eleven  Mr.  H[ern]  read  prayers,  and  I 
preached  on  Gal.  vi.  14.  The  church  stands  at  a  distance  from 
the  town,  and  it  rained  hard  ;  but  that  could  not  stop  the 
congregation.     In  the  afternoon  I  returned  to  Castlebar. 

JULY  i,  Thur. — There  is  just  such  a  work  here  as  was 
some  years  since  at  Athlone.  The  whole  town  is  pleased,  but 
few  are  convinced.  The  stream  runs  very  wide,  but  very 
shallow.1 

Sun.  4. — I  read  prayers  and  preached  at  Ballyhean,  Mr. 
E[llison]'s  other  church.  The  congregation  at  Castlebar  in  the 
afternoon  was  larger  than  ever  before.  In  the  morning,  Monday 
the  5th,  the  greater  half  of  them  were  present,  and  we  had  a 
solemn  parting.  In  the  afternoon  we  came  to  Hollymount,  some 
years  since  one  of  the  pleasantest  places  in  Ireland.  Dr.  Vesey, 
then  Archbishop  of  Tuam,  fixed  on  this  spot,  nine  miles  from 
his  see,  built  a  neat,  commodious  house  on  a  little  eminence, 
laid  out  fruit  and  flower  gardens  round  it,  brought  a  river  to  run 
through  them,  and  encompassed  the  whole  with  walks  and 
groves  of  stately  trees.  When  he  had  finished  his  plan,  round 
a  stone  pillar,  which  stands  in  a  basin  surrounded  by  a  small 
green  plat  of  ground,  he  placed  the  following  inscription  : 

Linquenda  tellus,  et  domus,  et  placens 
Uxor,  [cum  numerosa  et  speciosa  prole, 
Chara  charae  matris  sobole  :] 

Neque  harum  quas  colis  arborum 
Te  praeter  invisam  cupressum 
Ulla  brevem  dorainum  sequetur ! 2 


1  On  July  3  he  wrote  the  first  of  the  none,  except  the  loathed  cypress,  will 
letters  to  the  Rev.  James  Clark  (see  follow  you,  their  short-lived  owner,  to 
above,  p.  171).  the  tomb.'     Mr.  Lawrence  Ford's  com- 

2  Horace,  Odts,  ii.  14,  21-4.  Thomas  ment  on  this  fairly  illustrates  Wesley's 
Jackson's  translation  in  the  third  irregular  methods  of  using  classical 
edition  of  the  Works  is  as  follows  :  quotations,  which,  like  his  quotations 
'You  must  leave  behind  you  these  from  the  text  of  Holy  Scripture,  are  often, 
grounds,  this  house,  and  your  charm-  perhaps  always,  either  from  memory  or 
ing  wife  [with  your  numerous  and  from  his  notebooks.  Mr.  Ford  says:  'Is 
handsome  progeny,  the  endearing  off-  the  interpolated  "  Cum  numerosa  et  spe- 
spring  of  their  beloved  mother  !].  And  ciosa  prole  Chara  charae  matris  sobole  " 
of  all  those  trees  which  you  are  planting,  a  quotation  from  some  Latin  author,  or 


July  1756.] 


In  Ireland  173 


I  was  just  going  to  preach  in  the  churchyard,  when  Mr. 
C[lark]  sent  his  son  with  the  key  of  the  church.  Almost  half 
the  congregation  were  Papists,  whom  all  the  threats  of  their 
priest  could  not  keep  away.  Not  expecting  to  see  any  of  them 
again,  I  spake  very  plain  once  for  all. 

In  the  morning  we  rode  through  Tuam,  a  neat  little  town, 
scarce  half  so  large  as  Islington  ;  nor  is  the  cathedral  half  so 
large  as  Islington  church.  The  old  church  at  Kilconnell,  two 
miles  from  Aughrim,  is  abundantly  larger.  If  one  may  judge 
by  the  vast  ruins  that  remain  (over  all  which  we  walked  in  the 
afternoon),  it  was  a  far  more  stately  pile  of  building  than  any 
that  is  now  standing  in  Ireland.  Adjoining  to  it  are  the  ruins 
of  a  large  monastery  ;  many  of  the  cells  and  apartments  are 
pretty  entire.  At  the  west  end  of  the  church  lie  abundance  of 
skulls,  piled  one  upon  another,  with  innumerable  bones  round 
about,  scattered  as  dung  upon  the  earth.  O  sin,  what  hast 
thou  done ! 

Wed.  7. — I  preached  at  Aughrim  morning  and  evening,  and 
then  rode  over  to  Castlebar.  Mr.  M.  has  now  lost  both  his 
brother  and  his  two  daughters,  two  of  the  most  agreeable  women 
in  the  kingdom,  caught  away  in  the  full  bloom  of  youth  and 
beauty — if  they  can  be  termed  lost  who  all  committed  their  souls 
unto  Him  they  loved,  in  the  full  triumph  of  faith. 

Thur.  8. — A  coach-full  of  us,  with  several  horsemen,  and 
others  on  foot,  went  to  Ahascragh  in  the  morning.  The  rest 
of  the  congregation  were  mostly  Papists  ;  but  all  heard  with 
earnest  attention.  I  preached  in  the  evening  at  Athlone,  where, 
on  Friday  the  9th,  we  had  a  solemn  watch-night. 

Sun.  11. — We  had  a  blessed  opportunity  in  the  evening  on 
the  Connaught  side  of  the  river.  Almost  all  the  Protestants  in 
the  town  were  present,  with  abundance  of  Papists.  And  many 
of  them  acknowledged  the  doctrine  of  Christ  crucified  to  be  '  the 
power  of  God  and  the  wisdom  of  God.' 

Mon.  12. — After  preaching  at  Abbeyderg  about  noon  I  went 
on  to  Longford.     Many  supposed  the  mob  would  be  too  violent 


Wesley's   own?     The  foot-note    renders  given  both  below  (Oct.  13,   1779)   and 

the  whole  fairly  well.    The  true  reading  in  Sermon  xxvii.  (Sth  on  the  Sermon  on 

in    Horace's   third   line    is    the  plural,  the   Mount),    Works,     vol.    v.    p.    371.' 

"  invisas  cupressos,"  which  Wesley  has  (IV.H.S.  vol.  v.  p.  30.) 


1 74  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [juiy  1756. 

there  to  allow  me  a  peaceable  hearing.  I  began  at  five  in  the 
yard  of  the  old  barrack.  A  huge  crowd  soon  flocked  in,  but 
most  of  the  Papists  stood  at  the  gate,  or  just  without  the  wall. 
They  were  all  still  as  night  ;  nor  did  I  hear  an  uncivil  word 
while  we  afterwards  walked  from  one  end  of  the  town  to  the 
other. 

Tues.  13. — A  large  congregation  was  present  at  five,  and 
stood  unmoved,  notwithstanding  some  heavy  showers.  At  noon 
I  preached  at  Cleggill  ;  at  five  in  the  barrack-yard  again,  where 
the  concourse  of  people  was  greater  than  before.  Mr.  P[iers], 
the  minister  of  a  neighbouring  parish,1  and  another  clergyman 
who  came  with  him,  received  the  truth  in  love.  Mrs.  P[iers] 
(his  wife)  found  rest  to  her  soul. 

But  how  is  it  that  almost  in  every  place,  even  where  there  is 
no  lasting  fruit,  there  is  so  great  an  impression  made  at  first 
upon  a  considerable  number  of  people  ?  The  fact  is  this  : 
Everywhere  the  work  of  God  rises  higher  and  higher  till  it 
comes  to  a  point.  Here  it  seems  for  a  short  time  to  be  at  a 
stay.     And  then  it  gradually  sinks  again. 

All  this  may  easily  be  accounted  for.  At  first  curiosity 
brings  many  hearers  ;  at  the  same  time  God  draws  many  by 
His  preventing  grace  to  hear  His  word,  and  comforts  them  in 
hearing.  One  then  tells  another.  By  this  means,  on  the  one 
hand,  curiosity  spreads  and  increases,  and,  on  the  other,  draw- 
ings of  God's  Spirit  touch  more  hearts,  and  many  of  them  more 
powerfully  than  before.  He  now  offers  grace  to  all  that  hear, 
most  of  whom  are  in  some  measure  affected,  and  more  or  less 
moved,  with  approbation  of  what  they  hear,  desire  to  please 
God,  and  good-will  to  His  messenger.  These  principles,  variously 
combined  and  increasing,  raise  the  general  work  to  its  highest 
point.  But  it  cannot  stand  here,  for  in  the  nature  of  things 
curiosity  must  soon  decline.  Again,  the  drawings  of  God  are 
not  followed,  and  thereby  the  Spirit  of  God  is  grieved.  The 
consequence  is,  He  strives  with  this  and  this  man  no  more,  and 
so  His  drawings  end.  Thus  both  the  natural  and  supernatural 
power  declining,  most  of  the  hearers  will  be  less  and  less  affected. 
Add  to  this  that,  in  the  process  of  the  work,  '  it  must  be  that 


'  Killashee,    of    which    the    Rev.    Fletcher     Piers    was    rector    (Crookshank's 
Methodism  in  Ireland,  vol.  i.  p.  149  ;  Arm.  Mag.  1797,  p.  408). 


July  1756.) 


In  Ireland  175 


offences  will  come.'  Some  of  the  hearers,  if  not  preachers  also, 
will  act  contrary  to  their  profession.  Either  their  follies  or 
faults  will  be  told  from  one  to  another,  and  lose  nothing  in  the 
telling.  Men  once  curious  to  hear  will  now  draw  back  ;  men 
once  drawn,  having  stifled  their  good  desires,  will  disapprove 
what  they  approved  before,  and  feel  dislike  instead  of  good-will 
to  the  preacher.  Others,  who  were  more  or  less  convinced,  will 
be  afraid  or  ashamed  to  acknowledge  that  conviction.  And  all 
these  will  catch  at  ill  stories  (true  or  false)  in  order  to  justify 
their  change.  When  by  this  means  all  who  do  not  savingly 
believe  have  quenched  the  Spirit  of  God  the  little  flock  goes  on 
from  faith  to  faith  ;  the  rest  sleep  on  and  take  their  rest.  And 
thus  the  number  of  hearers  in  every  place  may  be  expected  first 
to  increase,  and  then  decrease. 

Wed.  14. — At  noon  I  preached  at  Coolalough,1  where  the 
preachers  and  stewards  met. 

Tliur.  15. — In  the  evening  I  preached  at  Tullamore,  in 
Barrack  Street,  and  many  who  never  had  so  much  curiosity 
as  to  walk  a  hundred  yards  to  hear  the  preaching  vouchsafed 
to  hear  it  at  their  own  doors.  In  the  middle  of  the  sermon 
came  a  quartermaster,  very  drunk,  and  rushed  in  among  the 
people.  In  a  short  time  he  slipped  off  his  hat  and  gave  all 
the  attention  of  which  he  was  capable.  So  did  many  of  the 
soldiers  and  many  officers.     Oh  let  some  lay  it  to  heart  ! 

Fri.  16. — We  walked  down  to  Lord  Tullamore's  2  (that  was 
his  title  then),  an  old  mile  from  the  town.  His  gardens  are 
extremely  pleasant.  They  contain  groves,  little  meadows, 
kitchen  gardens,  plats  of  flowers,  and  little  orchards,  inter- 
mixed with  fine  canals  and  pieces  of  water.  And  will  not  all 
these  make  their  owner  happy  ?  Not  if  he  has  one  unholy 
temper  !  Not  unless  he  has  in  himself  a  fountain  of  water, 
springing  up  into  everlasting  life. 

About  this  time  I  received  a  letter  without  a  name,  part  of 
which  I  have  subjoined  : 

Sir, 

Having  observed  your  Christian  condescension  in  those  labours 
of  love  so  truly  calculated  for  the  use  of  common  people,  I  presume  to 

1  See  above,  p.  39.  Tullamore,  who  in  1758  was  created  Earl 

'  Or,  more  correctly,  Baron  Moore  of      of  Charleville. 


176  John    Wesley  s  Journal  uuiyrrse. 

beg  your  pen  in  behalf  of  the  next  class  of  God's  creatures.  And  I 
would  ask  if  nature,  reason,  and  revelation  do  not  all  plead  in  favour 
even  of  the  brute  creation.  Is  it  not  unnatural  and  inhuman  to  put 
them  to  more  pain  than  is  necessary  for  the  service  of  man  ?  Can 
reason  consent  to  the  making  sport  with  the  life  or  misery  of  any 
creature  ?  May  not  the  great  law  of  equity,  doing  as  we  would  be  done 
to,  be  extended  even  to  them  ?  May  we  not  suppose  ourselves  in  their 
place,  and  thence  determine  what  they  may  fairly  expect  from  us  ? 
Hath  not  the  Supreme  Being  given  injunctions  against  cruelty  toward 
them  and  commanded  that  they  should  enjoy  the  rest  of  His  day  ? 
Did  He  not  rebuke  the  prophet  for  smiting  his  beast  without  cause,  and 
mention  the  '  much  cattle '  as  one  motive  to  the  divine  compassion  in 
sparing  the  '  great  city '  ?  The  Scripture  saith,  '  A  good  man  is  merciful 
to  his  beast.'  And  can  he  be  a  good  man  that  is  not  so,  if  goodness 
consists  in  imitating  Him  whose  '  mercy  is  over  all  His  works  '  ?  For 
'  He  openeth  His  hand,  and  satisfieth  the  desire  of  every  living  thing.' 

If  tenderness,  mercy,  and  compassion  to  the  brute  creatures  were 
impressed  on  the  infant  breast,  and  conducted  into  action  according  to 
its  little  power,  would  it  not  be  confirmed  in  the  human  heart  ?  And 
might  not  this  early  prepossession  be  for  ever  established  there,  and 
through  a  happy  bias  extend  its  benevolence  to  the  whole  creation  ? 

Does  not  experience  show  the  sad  effects  of  a  contrary  education  ? 
While  children,  instead  of  being  taught  benevolence  to  irrationals,  are 
suffered  to  torment  first  poor  little  insects  and  then  every  helpless 
creature  that  comes  in  their  way,  can  it  be  expected  that,  being  thus 
inured  to  cruelty  and  oppression  even  in  their  tender  years,  they  should 
relent  when  they  come  to  age  and  be  susceptible  of  compassion  even 
to  rationals  ?  It  cannot.  For  is  pity  shown  to  man  only  because  he 
has  reason  ?  If  so,  those  would  lose  their  claim  to  our  compassion  who 
stand  in  the  greatest  need  of  it,  namely,  children,  idiots,  and  lunatics. 
But  if  pity  is  shown  to  all  that  are  capable  of  pain,  then  may  it  justly  be 
expected  that  we  should  sympathize  with  everything  that  has  life. 

I  am  persuaded  you  are  not  insensible  of  the  pain  given  to  every 
Christian,  every  humane  heart,  by  those  savage  diversions,  bull-baiting, 
cock-fighting,  horse-racing,  and  hunting.  Can  any  of  these  irrational 
and  unnatural  sports  appear  otherwise  than  cruel,  unless  through  early 
prejudice  or  entire  want  of  consideration  and  reflection  ?  And  if  a  man 
is  void  of  these,  does  he  deserve  the  name  of  man  ?  Or  is  he  fit  for 
society  ?  And,  besides,  how  dreadful  are  the  concomitant  and  the  con- 
sequent vices  of  these  savage  routs  !  Yet  such  cowards  are  we  grown 
that  scarce  any  man  has  courage  to  draw  his  pen  against  them ! 

Sat.  17. — I  preached  in  Tyrrell's  Pass  at  five,  and  T[homas] 
Walsh  at  eight.     Hence  we  rode  to  Ballybeg,  near  Drumcree, 


July  1756.] 


In   Ulster  TJJ 


where  we  found  a  little  company  of  earnest  people,  most  of 
them  rejoicing  in  the  love  of  God.  To  these  were  added  a  few 
from  the  county  of  Cavan.  Joseph  Charles  going  thither  some 
time  since  on  temporal  business,  occasionally  spoke  of  the  things 
of  God.  Many  believed  his  report,  and  some  found  his  words 
'  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation.' 

Sun.  1 8. — A  little  before  twelve  (the  usual  hour  in  Ireland) 
the  morning  service  began  at  Rosmead  church,  where  Mr. 
Booker '  preached  a  useful  sermon.  I  preached  at  five  to 
abundance  of  plain  country  people,  and  two  coaches  full  of 
gentry.  Oh  how  hard  is  it  for  these  to  enter  into  the  kingdom 
of  heaven  ! 

Mon.  19. —  No  sooner  did  we  enter  Ulster  than  we  observed 
the  difference.  The  ground  was  cultivated  just  as  in  England, 
and  the  cottages  not  only  neat,  but  with  doors,  chimneys,  and 
windows.  Newry,  the  first  town  we  came  to  (allowing  for  the 
size),  is  built  much  after  the  manner  of  Liverpool.  I  preached 
soon  after  seven  to  a  large  congregation,  and  to  great  part  of 
them  at  five  in  the  morning.  Afterwards  I  spoke  to  the 
members  of  the  society,  consisting  of  Churchmen,  Dissenters, 
and  Papists  that  were.  But  there  is  no  striving  among  them, 
unless  to  '  enter  in  at  the  strait  gate.' 

Wed.  21. — In  the  morning  there  was  such  violent  lightning, 
thunder,  and  rain  that  the  very  beasts  ran  out  of  the  fields  and 
the  birds  flew  from  their  usual  coverts  to  take  shelter  in  the 
houses.  But  before  we  took  horse  the  sky  cleared  up,  and  we 
had  a  pleasant  ride  to  Terryhoogan,  near  Scarva.  The  road  lay 
on  the  edge  of  a  smooth  canal,  with  fruitful,  gently  rising  hills 
on  either  side.  We  were  at  a  lone  house,  but  the  people  found 
their  way  thither  in  the  evening  from  all  quarters.  I  preached 
in  a  meadow  near  the  house,  the  congregation  sitting  on  the 
grass.  And  surely  they  had  ears  to  hear.  God  give  them  hearts 
to  understand  ! 

Thur.  22. — We  rode  through  heavy  rain  to  Lisburn.2  I 
preached  in  the  market-house  at  seven.     One  man  only  gain- 


'  Rev.    Moore   Booker.       See   above,  packet,    which   foundered   in    a    storm, 

p.     39.        He     was     drowned     in     the  2  Wesley   was  the  guest    of  Mr.  and 

summer   of    1759   when    crossing    from  Mrs.  Hans  Cumberland.    See  also  Crook- 

Parkgate    to    Ireland     in    the    Chester  shank's  Memorable  Women,  pp.  31-8. 


[July  1756. 


i  78  John   Wesley  s  Journal 

sayed,  but  the  bystanders  used  him  so  roughly  that  he  was  soon 
glad  to  hold  his  peace. 

Fri.  23. — The  rector,  with  his  curate,  called  upon  me,  can- 
didly proposed  their  objections,  and  spent  about  two  hours  in 
free,  serious,  friendly  conversation.  How  much  evil  might  be 
prevented  or  removed  would  other  clergymen  follow  their 
example  ! 

I  rode  in  the  afternoon  to  Belfast,  the  largest  town  in 
Ulster.1  Some  think  it  contains  near  as  many  people  as 
Limerick.  It  is  far  cleaner  and  pleasanter.  At  seven  I  preached 
in  the  market-house  to  as  large  a  congregation  as  at  Lisburn, 
and  to  near  the  same  number  in  the  morning.  But  some  of 
them  did  not  stay  till  I  concluded.  They  went  away  in 
haste  when  I  showed  how  '  Christ  crucified '  is  '  to  the  Greeks 
foolishness.' 

Hence  we  rode  along  the  shore  to  Carrickfergus,  said  to  be  the 
most  ancient  town  in  Ulster.  The  walls  are  still,  as  it  were, 
standing,  and  the  castle  built  upon  a  rock  ;  but  it  is  little  more 
than  a  heap  of  ruins,  with  eight  or  nine  old,  dismounted,  rusty 
cannon.  What  it  was  in  the  reign  of  its  founder,  King  Fergus, 
does  not  much  concern  us  to  know. 

I  preached  in  the  session-house  at  seven  to  most  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  town  ;  but  Satan  had  prepared  one  of  his 
instruments,  when  I  had  done,  to  catch  the  seed  out  of  their 
hearts.  A  poor  enthusiast  began  a  dull,  pointless  harangue 
about  hirelings  and  false  prophets  ;  but  the  door-keeper 
crying  out,  '  I  am  going  to  lock  the  doors,'  cut  his  discourse 
short. 

Sun.  25. —  I  preached  at  nine  in  the  upper  court-house,  which 
was  considerably  larger  than  the  other.  James  Relly2  began  his 
bad  work  again  as  soon  as  I  had  done  speaking,  but  I  walked 
quietly  away,  as  did  also  the  congregation. 

At  eleven   I    went  to  church,  to  the  surprise  of  many,  and 


1  Its  population  at  this  time  was  8,500,  of  a  meeting-house  in  BartholomewClose, 
with  1,779  houses,  mostly  thatched.  where  he  continued   to   preach   till   his 

2  See  Life  of C.  of  Huntingdon,  vol.  ii.  death,  April  25,  1778.  He  was  buried 
p.  371,  where  a  remarkable  account  of  at  Maze  Pond,  Southwark— one  of  the 
James  Relly  is  given.  Converted  under  eccentric  figures  of  the  Evangelical  Re- 
Whitefield,  he  ultimately  became  minister  vival.     See  also  E.M.P.  vol.  v.  p.  16. 


July  1756.]  In   Ulster  179 

heard  a  lively,  useful  sermon.  After  dinner  one  of  our  brethren 
asked  if  I  was  ready  to  go  to  meeting.  I  told  him  '  I  never  go 
to  meeting.'  He  seemed  as  much  astonished  as  the  old  Scot  at 
Newcastle,  who  left  us  because  we  were  mere  Church  of  England 
men.  We  are  so,  although  we  condemn  none  who  have  been 
brought  up  in  another  way. 

About  five,  even  the  larger  court-house  being  too  small  to 
contain  the  congregation,  I  the  more  readily  complied  with  the 
desire  of  the  prisoners  to  preach  in  the  street,  near  the  prison 
door.  I  spoke  plain  and  home  as  ever  in  my  life  on  '  Ye  must 
be  born  again.'  Poor  James  was  now  resolved  to  speak,  and 
got  on  a  little  eminence  on  purpose.  And  what  could  hinder 
him  ?     Why — 

Vox  faucibus  haesit.1 

He  cawed  and  cawed,  but  could  utter  nothing,  hardly  three 
words  together.  This  also  hath  God  wrought.  He  hath  stopped 
the  mouth  of  the  gainsayer,  and  preserved  the  weak  from  being 
offended. 

Mon.  26. — Mr.  Walsh  met  me  at  Belfast  and  informed  me 
that  the  day  before  he  was  at  Newtownards,  intending  to  preach. 
But  while  he  was  at  prayer,  Mr.  M[ortimer] 2  came  with  a 
drunken  mob,  seized  him  by  the  throat,  and  dragged  him  along, 
till  a  stout  man 3  seized  him,  and  constrained  him  to  quit  his 
hold.  Mr.  W[alsh],  having  refreshed  himself  at  a  friend's 
house,  began  a  second  time ;  but  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour 
Mr.  M[ortimer],  having  rallied  his  mob,  came  again,  on  which 
Mr.  W[alsh]  gave  him  the  ground,  and  walked  away  over  the 
fields.4 

In  the  evening  I  spoke  very  plain  at  Lisburn,  both  to  the 
great  vulgar  and  the  small.  But  between  Seceders,  old  self- 
conceited  Presbyterians,  New-Light  men,  Moravians,  Came- 
ronians,  and  formal  Churchmen,  it  is  a  miracle  of  miracles  if  any 
here  bring  forth  fruit  to  perfection. 

The  country  between  Lisburn  and  Moira  is  much  like 
Berkshire,  having  fruitful  vales  on  each  side  of  the   road,  and 


1  The  sound  stuck  fast  in  his  throat.  mountain    Walsh     received     a    wetting 

2  Lanktree's  Narrative,  p.  352.  which  laid  the  foundation  of  the  disease 
'  Mr.  Beers.  that  hastened  his  end  (Crookshank's 
4  In  hurrying  through  the  fields  to  the  Methodism  in  Ireland,  vol.  i.  p.  1 16). 


180  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Aug.  1706. 

well-wooded  hills  running  even  with  them,  at  a  small  distance. 
At  seven  I  preached  in  the  market-house  at  Lurgan.  Many  of 
the  gentry  were  met  at  the  room  over  it,  it  being  the  time  of  the 
assembly.  The  violins  were  just  tuning,  but  they  ceased  till  I 
had  done,  and  the  novelty  at  least  drew  and  fixed  the  attention 
of  the  whole  company. 

Wed.  28.— I  read  Mr.  Barton's  ingenious  Lectures  on  Lough 
Neagk,1  near  Lurgan,  which  turns  wood  into  stone,  and  cures 
the  King's  evil  and  most  cutaneous  distempers.  Under  part  of 
this  lake  there  is  first  a  stratum  of  firm  clay,  and  under  that  a 
stratum  of  trees  four  foot  thick,  all  compacted  into  one  mass 
doubtless  by  the  pressure  of  the  incumbent  earth  (perhaps 
water  too),  which  it  has  probably  sustained  ever  since  the 
General  Deluge. 

In  the  evening  we  had  the  largest  congregation  which  I  have 
seen  since  we  left  Cork.  It  was  almost  as  large  at  five  in  the 
morning.    Why  should  we  despair  of  doing  good  at  Lurgan  also? 

Thur.  29. — I  preached  at  Newry,  and  the  three  following 
days. 

On  Monday,  AUG.  2,  I  returned  to  Rosmead. 

Tues.  3. — We  rode  to  Tullamore  through  heavy  rain,  which 
a  strong  wind  drove  full  in  our  face.  The  only  wild  Irish 
whom  I  have  seen  yet,  a  knot  of  officers,  were  present  at  the 
preaching  in  the  evening,  and  behaved  tolerably  well. 

Wed.  4. —  I  preached  at  Portarlington  in  the  evening,  and 
was  going  to  take  horse  in  the  morning,  when  a  gentleman 
came  and  said  he  was  just  setting  out  for  Dublin,  and  would 
be  glad  of  my  company  in  his  chariot.  I  accompanied  him  to 
Johnstown,  where  we  dined,  and  then  took  horse  and  rode  on  to 
Dublin. 

Fri.  6. — On  this  and  the  next  day  I  finished  my  business  in 
Ireland,  so  as  to  be  ready  to  sail  at  an  hour's  warning. 

Sun.  8. — We  were  to  sail,  the  wind  being  fair,  but  as  we  were 
going  aboard  it  turned  full  east.  I  find  it  of  great  use  to  be  in 
suspense  ;  it  is  an  excellent  means  of  breaking  our  will.  May 
we  be  ready  either  to  stay  longer  on  this  shore  or  to  launch  into 
eternity  ! 


Published  in  Dublin  in  1 751.     See  W.H.S.  vol.  iv.  p.  108. 


THOMAS    WALSH. 
ST.    NICHOLAS'S    GRAVEYARD,    CALLED    'THE    CABBAGE    GARDEN,'    DUBLIN",    IN    WHICH 

WALSH    IS    BURIED. 

Photo  :  Lafayette. 
181 


Aug.  1756] 


In  North   Wales  183 


On  Tuesday  evening  I  preached  my  farewell  sermon.  Mr. 
Walsh  did  the  same  in  the  morning.  We  then  walked  to  the 
quay,  but  it  was  still  a  doubt  whether  we  were  to  sail  or  no, 
Sir  T.  P.  having  sent  word  to  the  captain  of  the  packet  that  if 
the  wind  was  fair  he  would  go  over,  and  it  being  his  custom 
(Jiominis  magnificcntiam  !) 1  to  keep  the  whole  ship  to  himself ; 
but,  the  wind  coming  to  the  east,  he  would  not  go,  so  about  noon 
we  went  on  board.  In  two  or  three  hours  we  reached  the  mouth 
of  the  harbour.  It  then  fell  calm.  We  had  five  cabin  passengers 
beside  Mr.  [Thomas]  Walsh,  [John]  Haughton,  [James]  Morgan, 
and  me.  They  were  all  civil  and  tolerably  serious.  The  sailors 
likewise  behaved  uncommonly  well. 

Thur.  12. — About  eight  we  began  singing  on  the  quarter- 
deck, which  soon  drew  all  our  fellow  passengers,  as  well  as  the 
captain,  with  the  greatest  part  of  his  men.  I  afterwards  gave 
an  exhortation.  We  then  spent  some  time  in  prayer.  They 
all  kneeled  down  with  us  ;  nor  did  their  seriousness  wear  off  all 
the  day.  About  nine  we  landed  at  Holyhead,  after  a  pleasant 
passage  of  twenty-three  hours. 

Fri.  13. — Having  hired  horses  for  Chester,  we  set  out  about 
seven.  Before  one  we  reached  Bangor,  the  situation  of  which 
is  delightful  beyond  expression.  Here  we  saw  a  large  and 
handsome  cathedral,  but  no  trace  of  the  good  old  monks  of 
Bangor,2  so  many  hundreds  of  whom  fell  a  sacrifice  at  once  to 
cruelty  and  revenge.  The  country  from  hence  to  Penmaen- 
mawr  is  far  pleasanter  than  any  garden.  Mountains  of  every 
shape  and  size,  vales  clothed  with  grass  or  corn,  woods  and 
smaller  tufts  of  trees,  were  continually  varying  on  the  one  hand, 
as  was  the  sea  prospect  on  the  other.  Penmaenmawr  itself 
rises  almost  perpendicular  to  an  enormous  height  from  the  sea.3 
The  road  runs  along  the  side  of  it,  so  far  above  the  beach  that 


'  '  Such  was  the  expensive  stateliness  of  Canon    Cooper    Scott,    History    of  the 

the    man '     (T.    Jackson's    translation).  Church   of  St.  John,    Chester,    tells  the 

C.  L.  Ford  says  :   '  Possibly  an  imitation  tragic  story  of  the  massacre  of  the  monks 

of    Plautus,    Menoechmi,    IV.    iv,     16  :  who  were  praying  for  victory  against  the 

•  Hominis  impudentem  audaciam.'  pagan  Saxon  king  of  Northumbria.      A 

-  He  mistook  Bangor  on  the  coast  for  window   in   the    church    commemorates 

the     other    Bangor — Bangor-is-y-coed —  the  massacre.     (  W.H.S.  vol.  ii.  p.  217.) 

(now  known   as   Bangor-on-Dee) — near  3  1,563  feet.     See  Thomson's  Seasons, 

Wrexham,   in  the  valley  of  the    Dee.  quoted  below. 


184  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Aug.  1756. 

one  could  not  venture  to  look  down  but  that  there  is  a  wall 
built  all  along,  about  four  foot  high.  Meantime,  the  ragged 
cliff  hangs  over  one's  head,  as  if  it  would  fall  every  moment.1 
An  hour  after  we  had  left  this  awful  place  we  came  to  the 
ancient  town  of  Conway.  It  is  walled  round,  and  the  walls  are 
in  tolerably  good  repair.  The  castle  is  the  noblest  ruin  I  ever 
saw.  It  is  four-square,  and  has  four  large  round  towers,  one  at 
each  corner,  the  inside  of  which  have  been  stately  apartments.2 
One  side  of  the  castle  is  a  large  church,  the  windows  and 
arches  of  which  have  been  curiously  wrought.  An  arm  of  the 
sea  runs  round  two  sides  of  the  hill  on  which  the  castle  stands — 
once  the  delight  of  kings,  now  overgrown  with  thorns,  and 
inhabited  by  doleful  birds  only. 

About  eight  we  reached  Plas  Bach,  where,  as  soon  as  I 
named  my  name,  William  Roberts  received  us  with  all  glad- 
ness. But  neither  he  nor  any  of  his  family  could  speak  one 
sentence  of  English ;  yet  our  guide  helped  us  out  pretty  well. 
After  supper  we  sung  and  went  to  prayers.  Though  they  could 
not  speak  it,  most  of  them  understood  English ;  and  God  spoke 
to  their  hearts. 

Sat.  14. — Several  of  the  neighbours  came  early  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  gladly  received  a  few  words  of  exhortation.  We  then 
rode  on,  through  one  of  the  pleasantest  countries  in  the  world, 
by  Holywell  to  Chester.  Here  we  had  a  comfortable  meeting  in 
the  evening,  as  well  as  the  next  day,  both  in  the  room  and  in  the 
Square. 

Mon.  16. — The  rain  was  suspended  while  I  preached  to  a 
large  and  quiet  congregation. 

Tues.  17. — I  rode  to  Bolton.  Though  I  came  unexpected,  the 
house  was  well  filled.     After  resting  a  day,  on  Thursday  the  19th 


1   See  Bradley's  Highways  and  Byways  Amid  Carnarvon's  mountains  rages  loud 

in  North  Wales,  pp.  267-8  :   '  The  terrors  The  ^P^cussive  roar  :  with  mighty  crash, 

.    .  ,  .       ,         ,,-r         ,  Into  the  flashing  deep,  from  the  rude  rocks 

of  the   narrow  road  cut  in  the  cliff,  and  of  Penmaenmawr,  heaped  hideous  to  the  sky, 

rendered  only  less  appalling   with  each  Tumble  the  smitten  cliffs  ;  and  Snowdon's 
generation,  are  the  burden  of  a  score  of  peak 

writers.        Dr.    Johnson    tells    us     how  Dissolving,  instant  yields  his  wintry  load. 

frightened  he  was  at  the  prospect,  and  Thomson's  Seasons,  'Summer,'  11.  1611- 

how   relieved    when    he    got    safely   to  16. 

Bangor.'  1  One  130  feet  square. 


Aug.  1756.]  The   Thirteenth  Conference  185 

I  went  on  to  Manchester,  and  preached  in  the  evening  to  a  large 
congregation,  without  the  least  disturbance.  The  tumults  here 
are  now  at  an  end,  chiefly  through  the  courage  and  activity  of  a 
single  constable. 

Fri.  20. — I  rode  to  Chelmorton-in-the-Peak.  Although  the 
poor  people  had  no  previous  notice,  they  supplied  the  want  of 
it  by  sending  quickly  to  the  neighbouring  villages.  Between 
seven  and  eight  the  house  was  pretty  well  filled,  and  many  of 
them  were  extremely  thankful. 

Sat.  21. — We  set  out  early,  and,  after  spending  an  hour 
at  Ashbourne,  hastened  on  to  Lichfield.  But  it  was  not  without 
difficulty,  the  waters  being  out  to  a  very  uncommon  degree  in 
many  places.1  About  eight  we  reached  Wcdnesbury,  tired 
enough.     There  we  stayed  the  next  day. 

Mon.  23. — We  rode  forward  to  Redditch.  It  had  rained  all 
the  way,  so  that  Mr.  Walsh  was  obliged  to  go  to  bed  as  soon  as 
we  came  in.  Having  dried  some  of  our  clothes,  Mr.  Bruce  and 
I  took  horse  again  about  two  ;  having  one  with  us  who  knew  the 
by-roads,  the  common  road  being  unpassable  through  the  floods. 
About  five  we  came  to  a  broad  water,2  which  our  guide  did  not 
care  to  pass.  Mr.  Bruce,  seeing  a  foot-bridge,  walked  over  it, 
leading  his  horse  by  a  long  rein  through  the  water;  but  in  an 
instant  the  horse  disappeared.  However,  he  soon  emerged  and 
gained  the  bank.  I  rode  through,  at  a  small  distance,  very 
safely,  and  in  the  evening  preached  at  Evesham. 

Tries.  24. — Finding  we  could  not  ride  the  usual  way,  we 
procured  another  guide,  and  rode  by  Andoversford 3  to  Stroud. 
Mr.  Jones  and  my  brother  met  us  here.4 

Wed.  25. — We  rode  on  to  Bristol. 

Thur.  26. — About  fifty  of  us  being  met,5  the  Rules  of  the 
Society  were  read  over,  and  carefully  considered  one  by  one  ; 
but  we  did  not  find  any  that  could  be  spared.  So  we  all 
agreed  to  abide  by  them  all,  and  to  recommend  them  with  our 
misht. 


1  See  VV.H.S.  vol.  vii.  p.  6.  4  They  met  on  their  way  to  the  Con- 

2  Probably  the  Arrow,  between  Alcester  ference. 

and  Wixford.  5  The    thirteenth    Conference    (Tyer- 

'  Andoversford,  near  Cheltenham,  on  man's    Life,    vol.    ii.    p.    240  ;    Myles's 

the  road  to  London,  at  cross  roads,  six  Chronological  History,  p.  78). 
miles. 


1 86  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Sept  1766. 

We  then  largely  considered  the  necessity  of  keeping  in  the 
Church,  and  using  the  clergy  with  tenderness  ;  and  there  was  no 
dissenting  voice.  God  gave  us  all  to  be  of  one  mind  and  of  one 
judgement. 

Fri.  27. — The  Rules  of  the  Bands  were  read  over  and  con- 
sidered one  by  one  ;  which,  after  some  verbal  alterations,  we  all 
agreed  to  observe  and  enforce. 

Sat.  28.— The  Rules  of  Kingswood  School 1  were  read  and 
considered,  one  by  one ;  and  we  were  all  convinced  they  were 
agreeable  to  Scripture  and  reason  ;  in  consequence  of  which  it 
was  agreed  :  (1)  that  a  short  account  of  the  design  and  present 
state  of  the  School  be  read  by  every  assistant  in  every  society  ; 
and  (2)  that  a  subscription  for  it  be  begun  in  every  place,  and 
(if  need  be)  a  collection  made  every  year. 

My  brother  and  I  closed  the  Conference  by  a  solemn  declara- 
tion of  our  purpose  never  to  separate  from  the  Church  ;  and  all 
our  brethren  concurred  therein.2 

For  a  few  days  I  was  laid  up  with  a  flux  ;  but  on  Sunday, 
Sept.  5,  I  crept  out  again,  and  preached  at  Kingswood  in  the 
morning  and  Stokes  Croft 3  in  the  afternoon. 

Mon.  6. — I  set  out  in  the  machine,  and  on  Tuesday  evening 
came  to  London.4 

Wednesday  and  Thursday ,5  I  settled  my  temporal  business. 
It  is  now  about  eighteen  years  since  I  began  writing  and 
printing  books  ;  and  how  much  in  that  time  have  I  gained  by 
printing  ?  Why,  on  summing  up  my  accounts,  I  found  that  on 
March  1,  1756  (the  day  I   left  London  last),  I  had  gained  by 


1  See   History    of  Kitigswood  School,  at  Sheffield  {Works,  vol.  xiii.  p.  66);  on 
pp.  41-6,  Works,  vol.  xiii.  p.  294.  Sept.  3,  from  Kingswood,  to  Walker  of 

2  An  agreement  in  the  same  words  as  Truro  (vol.  xiii.  p.  197),  and  to  Mr.  Nor- 
that  of  March  16,  1 752  (see  above,  pp.  8, 9)  ton  (vol.  xiii.  p.  218). 

was  signed   on  the  30th,    with   the   ad-  3  Stokes  Croft  at  that  time  was  resi- 

ditional    names     of    Thomas    Johnson,  dential,  and  planted  with  trees. 

James  Jones,  Peter  Jaco,  William    Hit-  '  He   went  to   London    intending    to 

chens,   John  Johnson,   John    Haughton  print     a    new     edition      of    his     Notes 

(who  afterwards  left  him,    as   did  John  (letter    of   Charles   Wesley   to    Walker 

Maddern    and  James   Morris),    Thomas  of  Truro — see  the  latter's  Life,  p.  228). 

Mitchell,     William      Roberts,     Richard  5  On  Sept.  9  he  wrote  his  first  letter 

Lucas.      {W.M.     Mag.    1847,    p.   869.)  to  the  Monthly  Reviewers  {Works,  vol. 

On  the  31st  he  wrote  to  Robert  Marsden  xiii.  p.  382). 


Sept.  1756.] 


In  London  187 


printing  and  preaching  together,  a  debt  of  twelve  hundred  and 
thirty-six  pounds. 

Fri.  10. — I  preached  at  a  famous  place,  commonly  called 
'  The  Bull-and-Mouth  Meeting,' x  which  had  belonged,  I  sup- 
pose, near  a  -hundred  years,  to  the  people  called  Quakers. 
As  much  of  real  religion  as  was  ever  preached  there,  I  trust 
will  be  preached  there  still ;  and  perhaps  in  a  more  rational 
scriptural,  and  intelligible  manner.2 

Sat.  11. — I  read  over  Mr.  Fry's  Case  of  Marriage  between 
Near  Relations  Considered?  It  is  the  best  tract  I  ever  read 
upon  the  subject ;  I  suppose  the  best  that  is  extant.  And  two 
points,  I  think,  he  has  fully  proved  :  (1)  that  many  marriages 
commonly  supposed  to  be  unlawful  are  neither  contrary  to 
the  law  of  nature,  nor  the  revealed  law  of  God,  nor  the  law 
of  the  land  ;  (2)  that  Ecclesiastical  Courts  have  no  right  to 
meddle  with  any  case  of  this  kind.4 

Thur.  16. — I  walked  over  to  Bishop  Bonner's,5  and  preached 
to  a  large  and  serious  congregation.  I  found  some  faintness, 
the  sun  being  extremely  hot  ;  but  more  in  walking  from 
thence  to  Westminster,  where  I  preached  at  seven.  In  the 
night  my  old  disorder  returned,  and  gradually  increased,  in 
spite  of  all  medicines.  However,  on  Sunday  and  Monday 
it  was  so  far  suspended  that  I  abated  nothing  of  my  usual 
employment. 

Wed.  22. — I  was  considering  I  had  not  yet  asked  help  of 
the  Great  Physician  ;   and  I   resolved  to  delay  no  longer.      In 


1  Bull-and-Mouth    Street   is    a    cross-  letter  to  Rev.  Mr.    Clark   (IVor&s,    vol. 
street  leading  from  St.  Martin's-le-Grand  xiii.  p.  212).     See  above,  p.  171. 

to  Butcher  Hall  Lane.     Here  stood  for  3  The   title  is  '  John    Fry  :    Marriage 

many  years  a  meeting-house  built  origin-  between  near  Kindred.'     London,  1756. 

ally  for  the  Quakers,  who  occupied  it  as  Second  ed.  in   1 773-      See   Gentleman's 

early  as  the  reign  of  Charles  II.     They  Magazine,  1788.  pp.  882,  965  ;  Monthly 

relinquished  it  in  1760,  when  the  Sande-  Review,  vol.  xv.  p.  174. 

manians   removed  there,   and   Mr.  Pike  *  On  Sunday,  Sept.  12,  he  preached  at 

united    with    them.     (Wilson's   History  West    Street,    Snowsfields,    and    Moor- 

and  Antiquities  of  Dissenting  Churches  fields  ;   and  on  Monday  the  13th  at  Wap- 

in  London,    vol.    iii.  p.    364.)     Wesley  ping.    Other  preaching  engagements  not 

ceased  preaching  there   Dec.  21,    1763.  mentioned    in    the  Journal   during   this 

Neale's  History  of  the  Puritans  mentions  month  are:  Sunday  the  19th,  Bull-and- 

this  famous  place.  Mouth,  Foundery ;  and  Friday,  24,  Zoar. 

2  On   Sept.    10   he   wrote  his  second  5  See  above,  p.   101. 


1 88  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Oct.  1756. 

that  hour  I  felt  a  change.  I  slept  sound  that  night,  and  was  well 
the  next  day. 

Oct.  3,  Sun. — My  disorder  returned  as  violent  as  ever  ; 
but  I  regarded  it  not  while  I  was  performing  the  service  at 
Snowsfields  in  the  morning,  or  afterward  at  Spitalfields ;  till  I 
went  to  the  Lord's  Table  in  order  to  administer.  A  thought 
then  came  into  my  mind,  '  Why  do  I  not  apply  to  God  in  the 
beginning  rather  than  the  end  of  an  illness  ?  '  1  did  so,  and 
found  immediate  relief;  so  that  I  needed  no  further  medicines. 

Tues.  5. — I  wrote  a  second  letter  to  the  authors  of  The 
Monthly  Review1 — ingenious  men,  but  no  friends  to  the 
Godhead  of  Christ.  Yet,  upon  further  consideration,  I  judged 
it  best  to  drop  the  controversy.  It  is  enough  that  I  have 
delivered  my  own  soul ;  if  they  scorn,  they  alone  shall  bear  it. 

Sun.  10. — I  preached  to  a  huge  multitude  in  Moorfields 
on  'Why  will  ye  die,  O  house  of  Israel?'  It  is  field-preaching 
which  does  the  execution  still ;  for  usefulness  there  is  none 
comparable  to  it. 

Mon.  1 1. — I  went  to  Leigh.  Where  we  dined,  a  poor  woman 
came  to  the  door  with  two  little  children.  They  seemed  to  be 
half-starved,  as  well  as  their  mother,  who  was  also  shivering 
with  an  ague.  She  was  extremely  thankful  for  a  little  food, 
and  still  more  so  for  a  few  pills  which  seldom  fail  to  cure  that 
disorder. 

In  this  little  journey  I  read  over  a  curiosity  indeed — a 
French  heroic  poem,  Voltaire's  Heuriade.2  He  is  a  very  lively 
writer,  of  a  fine  imagination  ;  and  allowed,  I  suppose,  by  all 
competent  judges,  to  be  a  perfect  master  of  the  French 
language  ;  and  by  him  I  was  more  than  ever  convinced  that  the 
French  is  the  poorest,  meanest  language  in  Europe  ;  that  it  is 
no  more  comparable  to  the  German  or  Spanish  than  a  bag-pipe 
is  to  an  organ  ;  and  that,  with  regard  to  poetry  in  particular, 
considering  the  incorrigible  uncouthness  of  their  measure,  and 
their  always  writing  in  rhyme  (to  say  nothing  of  their  vile 
double   rhymes,    nay,    and    frequent    false    rhymes),    it    is    as 


1    Works,    vol.    xiii.    p.    384.      Footc  lished  in   French,    London,    1728,    8vo. 

ridicules  this  Review  in  his  plays.  See  Ruskin's  Fors  Clavigera,  letter  34, 

-  Voltaire,  Francois  Marie  Arouet  de  p.   7  ('  most  prosaic  ')  ;   John    Morley's 

(1694-1778).     La  Henriade:    first  pub-  Voltaire,  p.  145. 


Oct.  1766.] 


In  London  189 


impossible  to  write  a  fine  poem  in  French  as  to  make  fine  music 
upon  a  jews'-harp. 

Sat.  16. — I  baptized  Hannah  C ,  late  a  Quaker.     God, 

as  usual,  bore  witness  to  His  ordinance.  A  solemn  awe  spread 
over  the  whole  congregation,  and  many  could  not  refrain  from 
tears.1 

Wed.  20. — I  received  the  following  letter  : 

Rev.  Sir, 

The  glory  of  God  and  the  good  of  mankind  are  the  motives  that 
induce  me  to  write  the  following. 

As  it  is  our  duty  to  do  all  we  can  to  make  all  around  us  happy,  I 
think  there  is  one  thing  that  may  be  done  to  promote  so  blessed  an 
end,  which  will  at  the  same  time  be  very  advantageous  to  them  that 
practise  it ;  namely,  to  efface  all  the  obscene  words  which  are  written 
on  houses,  doors,  or  walls  by  evil-minded  men.  This,  which  I  recom- 
mend to  others,  I  constantly  practise  myself ;  and  if  ever  I  omit  doing 
it,  I  am  severely  checked,  unless  I  can  produce  some  good  reason  for 
that  omission.  I  do  it  with  a  sponge,  which  for  that  purpose  I  carry  in 
my  pocket.  The  advantages  I  reap  from  hence  are  :  (1)  peace  of  con- 
science in  doing  my  duty  ;  (2)  it  helps  me  to  conquer  the  fear  of  man, 
which  is  one  of  my  greatest  trials  ;  (3)  it  is  matter  of  joy  that  I  can  do 
any  the  least  service  to  any  one  :  and  as  all  persons,  especially  the 
young,  are  liable  to  temptations  to  impurity,  I  cannot  do  too  much  to 
remove  such  temptations,  either  from  myself  or  others.  Perhaps,  too, 
when  the  unhappy  writers  pass  by,  and  see  their  bad  labours  soon 
effaced,  they  may  be  discouraged  from  pursuing  so  shameful  a  work ; 
yea,  and  brought  to  a  better  mind. 

Perhaps  in  some  places  it  might  not  be  amiss,  in  the  room  of  what 
is  effaced,  to  write  some  serious  sentence,  or  short  text  of  Scripture  ; 
and,  wherever  we  do  this,  would  it  not  be  well  to  lift  up  our  heart  to 
God,  in  behalf  of  those  sinners,  in  this  or  the  like  manner  :  '  Lord,  lay 
not  this  sin  to  their  charge  !  Father,  forgive  them  ;  for  they  know  not 
what  they  do  ! '  ? 

Mon.  25. — I  began  reading  that  excellent  book,  T/te 
Gospel  Glass?  to  the  morning  congregation  :   a   method  which 


1  On  the  16th  he  began  a  long  letter  in  Exeter   Cathedral ;  ejected  for  Non- 

to  James  Hervey  concerning  his  recently  conformity,      1662.      A      Gospel     Glass, 

published    Theron  and  Aspasio  (  Works,  representing  the  Miscarriages  of  English 

vol.  x.  p.  317-35).     See  above,  p.  103.  Professors,    &c,     London,    1667.       See 

-  Stuckley  [Stukely],  Lewis,  preacher  W.H.S.  vol.  iv.  p.  109. 

VOL.   IV  12 


1 90  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [Nov.  17M. 

I  find  more  profitable  for  '  instruction  in  righteousness '  than 
any  other  manner  of  preaching. 

Tues.  26. — I  began  reading  over,  with  the  preachers  that 
were  in  town,  Mr.  Pike's  PhilosopJiia  Sacra}  It  contains  the 
marrow  of  Mr.  Hutchinson's  philosophy  clearly  and  modestly 
proposed  ;  but,  upon  a  close  examination,  I  found  the  proofs 
were  grievously  defective.  I  shall  never  receive  Mr.  Hutchinson's 
creed,  unless  ipse  dixit  pass  for  evidence. 

Sat.  30. — I  yielded  to  importunity,  and  spent  an  hour  with 
poor  Mr.  V—,  who  was  awakened  and  found  peace  in 
attending  our  preaching,  and  soon  after  turned  Quaker.  I  did 
wonder  at  it  once,  but  I  do  not  now.  One  so  full  of  himself 
might  turn  Papist  or  Mahometan.2 

Nov.  1,  Monday,  was  a  day  of  triumphant  joy,  as  All-Saints' 
Day  generally  is.3  How  superstitious  are  they  who  scruple 
giving  God  solemn  thanks  for  the  lives  and  deaths  of  His 
saints  ! 

Tues.  9. — Having  procured  an  apparatus  on  purpose,  I 
ordered  several  persons  to  be  electrified,  who  were  ill  of  various 
disorders  ;  some  of  whom  found  an  immediate,  some  a  gradual, 
cure.  From  this  time  I  appointed,  first  some  hours  in  every 
week,  and  afterward  an  hour  in  every  day,  wherein  any  that 
desired  it  might  try  the  virtue  of  this  surprising  medicine. 
Two  or  three  years  after,  our  patients  were  so  numerous  that 
we  were  obliged  to  divide  them  ;  so  part  were  electrified  in 
Southwark,  part  at  the  Foundery,  others  near  St.  Paul's,  and 
the  rest  near  the  Seven  Dials.     The  same  method  we  have  taken 


1  See  Tyerman,  vol.  ii.  p.  260  :  W.H.S.  D.  {Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  464)  should   be 

vol.  iv.  p.  108  :   Works,  vol.  xii.   p.  464.  read.     Incidentally,  this  is  one  of  many 

Why  he  should  apparently  waste   time  proofs   that    Wesley    bestowed    all    the 

by  reading  with  his   London   preachers  time  he  could  spare  from  other  and  still 

an  author  in  whose  teaching  he  had  no  more  pressing  duties,  and  his  best  thought, 

confidence  can  only  be  explained  on  the  on   the   training   of  his   preachers.     He 

supposition   that  this  and  similar  books  made  the  itinerancy  a  peripatetic  school 

were  being  read,  and  he  judged  it  prudent  of  learning. 

to  guide,  and   if  necessary,  correct,  the  "  During    October    he    preached     at 

reading.     Thomas  Walsh,  whose  extra-  Clapham,   and   in   November    at    West 

ordinary  knowledge  of  Hebrew  he  notes  Street,  The  Bull-and-Mouth,  and  Snows- 

in  his  letter  to  Dean  D.,  was  a  powerful  fields. 

intellectual  force  at  this  time,  and    was  3  It  was  always  observed  by  Wesley, 

now  with  Wesley.     The  letter  to  Dean  See  below,  Nov.  I,  1766,  and  1767. 


Dec.  1766.) 


In  London  191 


ever  since  ;  and  to  this  day,  while  hundreds,  perhaps  thousands, 
have  received  unspeakable  good,  I  have  not  known  one  man, 
woman,  or  child,  who  has  received  any  hurt  thereby.  So  that, 
when  I  hear  any  talk  of  the  danger  of  being  electrified  (especi- 
ally if  they  are  medical  men  who  talk  so),  I  cannot  but  impute 
it  to  great  want  either  of  sense  or  honesty. 

Fri.  12. — I  read  over  Leusden's  Dissertation  in  Defence  of  the 
Hebrew  Points,1  and  was  fully  convinced  there  is  at  least  as 
much  to  be  said  on  this  as  on  the  other  side  of  the  question  ; 
but  how  is  it  that  men  are  so  positive  on  both  sides  while 
demonstration  is  to  be  had  on  neither  ?  Certainly  to  be  per- 
emptory and  dogmatical  can  never  be  so  inexcusable  as  in  a 
point  so  doubtful  as  this. 

Mon.  22. — I  read  with  the  preachers  this  week  the  Glasgow 
Abridgement  of  Mr.  Hutchinson's  Works,2  wherein  the 
abridgers  have  expressed,  with  surprising  exactness,  not  only 
his  sense,  but  his  very  spirit.  But,  in  truth,  I  cannot  admire 
either;  nay,  I  admire  his  hypothesis  less  and  less,  as  I  see  the 
whole  is  unsupported  by  Scripture.  Very  ingenious,  but 
quite  precarious.3 

Dec.  1,  Wed. — One  or  two  remarkable  letters  were  put 
into  my  hands.     Part  of  the  first  ran  thus  : 

Blessed  be  God,  who  desireth  not  the  death  of  a  sinner  !  It  pleased 
Him  not  to  cut  off  my  son  in  his  sins.  He  gave  him  time  to  repent ; 
and  not  only  so,  but  a  heart  to  repent.  He  showed  him  his  lost  estate 
by  nature,  and  that,  unless  he  was  reconciled  to  God  by  His  Son,  and 
washed  in  His  blood  from  all  his  sins,  he  could  never  be  saved.  After 
he  was  condemned  at  York  for  a  robbery  on  the  highway  I  attended 
him  in  the  condemned  room ;  and,  blessed  be  God,  He  enabled  me  to 
preach  the  everlasting  gospel  to  him.  It  was  on  Saturday  he  was  con- 
demned. It  was  on  the  Saturday  following  the  Lord  touched  his  heart. 
He  then  began  to  wrestle  with  God  in  prayer,  and  left  not  off  till 
Sunday  in  the  afternoon,  when  God,  who  is  rich  in  mercy,  applied  the 
blood  of  His  Son,  and  convinced  him  He  had  forgiven  him  all  his  sins. 
He  felt  his  soul  at  peace  with  God,  and  longed  to  depart  and  to  be 


1  Jan     Leusden,     Dutch     Orientalist,  3  Nov.     30,    at    Lewisham  :    Preface 

(1624-99);     Dissertation     in     Defence  to  The  Doctrine  of Original  Sin  {Works, 

of  the  Hebrew  Points  (IV.H.S.  vol.    iv.  vol.  ix.  p.  192).     In  December  he  wrote 

p.  109).  a  letter  to  '  a  friend  '  (Whitehead's  Life, 

1  IV.H.S.  vol.  iv.  p.  109  ;  below,  p.  280.  vol.  ii.  p.  286). 


192  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Dec.  1756. 


with  Christ.  The  following  week  his  peace  increased  daily,  till  on 
Saturday,  the  day  he  was  to  die,  he  came  out  of  the  condemned  room 
clothed  in  his  shroud,  and  went  into  the  cart.1  As  he  went  on,  the 
cheerfulness  and  composure  of  his  countenance  were  amazing  to  all  the 
spectators.  At  the  place  of  execution,  after  he  had  spent  some  time  in 
prayer,  he  rose  up,  took  a  cheerful  leave  of  his  friends,  and  said,  '  Glory 
be  to  God  for  free  grace  !'  His  last  words  were,  '  Lord  Jesus,  receive 
my  soul.' 

Part  of  the  other  letter,  wrote  by  himself  to  his  wife,  was 
as  follows  : 

My  Dear, 

Righteous  is  the  Lord,  and  just  are  His  judgements  !  His  hand 
of  justice  cuts  my  life  short,  but  His  hand  of  mercy  saves  my  soul. 
You,  for  one,  are  a  witness  of  the  course  of  life  I  led.  Were  it  in  my 
power,  I  would  gladly  make  amends  to  you  and  every  one  else  that  I 
have  wronged.  But,  seeing  it  is  not,  I  hope  that  God  and  you,  and 
every  one  else,  will  accept  of  my  willing  mind.  In  a  few  hours  I  shall 
be  delivered  out  of  this  miserable  world.  But,  glory  be  to  God,  He 
has  given  repentance  and  remission  of  sins  to  me,  the  worst  of  sinners  ; 
He  has  taken  away  the  sting  of  death,  and  I  am  prepared  to  meet  my 
God.  Let  my  example  encourage  every  sinner  to  forsake  sin  and 
come  unto  God  through  Jesus  Christ.  As  a  dying  man  I  give  you  this 
advice  :  give  yourself  wholly  up  to  God.  Pray  to  Him,  and  never  rest 
till  you  have  secured  an  interest  in  the  blood  of  Christ.  Live  in  His 
fear,  and  you  (as  well  as  I)  shall  die  in  His  favour.  So  no  more 
from 

Your  dying  husband, 

Richard  Varley. 

York  Castle,  Aug.  20. 

Mon.  6. — I  began  reading  to  our  preachers  the  late  Bishop 
of  Cork's  excellent  Treatise  on  Human  Understanding?  in 
most  points  far  clearer  and  more  judicious  than  Mr.  Locke's, 
as  well  as  designed  to  advance  a  better  cause. 

Fri.  10. — A  person  who  was  dying  of  a  cancer  in  her  breast, 
and  deeply  convinced  of  sin,  sent  a  post-chaise,  in  which  I  went 
to  her  at  Epsom.     I   left  her  on   Saturday  morning   in  strong 


1  Note  the  incidental  touch  of  ghastly  Extent,  and  Limits  of  Human    Under- 
realism.  standing.     London,    1728.      See    Rigg's 

2  Dr.  Peter  Browne  (Bishop  of  Cork,  Living  Wesley,  p.  184;   W.H.S.  vol.  iv. 
1710-1735):  The  Procedure  {or  Progress),  p.  109. 


Jan.  1757.1 


In  London  193 


hope  she  should  not  go  hence  till  her  eyes  had  seen  His 
salvation. 

In  my  fragments  of  time,  in  the  following  week,  I  read 
Mr.  Hanway's  accurate  History  of  Shah  Nadir,  commonly  called 
Kouli  Khan}  A  scourge  of  God  indeed  !  A  prodigy  of  valour 
and  conduct,  but  an  unparalleled  monster  of  rapine  and  cruelty. 
Alexander  the  Great,  yea,  Nero  or  Domitian,  was  an  innocent 
in  comparison  of  him. 

Sun.  2C2 — I  buried  the  remains  of  Joseph  Yarner,  an  Israelite 
indeed.  The  peace  which  filled  his  heart  during  his  last  hours 
gave  such  a  bloom  to  his  very  countenance  as  remained  after 
death,  to  the  surprise  of  all  who  remembered  the  cloud  that  used 
to  hang  upon  it. 

1757.  Jan.  3,  Mon. — I  visited  a  poor  dying  backslider,  full 
of  good  resolutions  ;  but  who  can  tell  when  these  imply  a  real 
change  of  heart  ?  And  when  they  do  not,  when  they  spring 
from  fear  only,  what  will  they  avail  before  God  ? 3 

Mon.   10. — I   walked  to  Bishop  Bonner's  with   Mr.   D , 

lately  entered  at  Cambridge,  full  of  good  resolutions.  May  God 
continue  him  humble  and  simple  of  heart !  Then  his  sense  and 
learning  will  do  him  good;  but  how  great  are  the  odds  against 
him!4 

Sat.  22. — I  called  upon  one  who  did  run  well  for  several 
years,  but  for  a  considerable  time  he  had  cast  off  the  very 
form  of  religion.  Yet  his  heart  was  not  utterly  hardened. 
He  determined  to  set  out  once  more,  and  since  that  time 
he  has  been  more  confirmed  in  walking  suitably  to  the 
gospel.5 

Fri.  28. — Mr.  Meier,  chaplain  to  one  of  the  Hanoverian 
regiments,  called  and  spent  an  hour  with  me.  I  am  surprised 
at  the  seriousness   of  all    the  German  ministers  with  whom  I 


'See      W.H.S.     vol.     iv.      p.      109.  West  Street  Chapel,  and  Bull-and-Mouth. 

Apparently  he  did  not  read  the  trading  4  The    date    at    end    of  one   of    the 

section  of  the  work,  but  only  the  history  sections  in  Part  II.  of  Wesley's  Doctrine 

of  Nadir  Kouli.  of  Original  Sin  (see  below,  p.  327)   is 

2  On  the  22nd  he  wrote  to  Miss  Furly  Jan.    18,    1757,    and    Part    II.   itself   is 

(Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  196).  signed  '  Lewisham,'  Jan.  25. 

1  The     Sermon     Register    gives,     for  s  In  January  Wesley  also  preached  at 

Mon.  Jan.  3,  texts  used  at  the  Foundery,  Lewisham,  Leigh,  and  Lambeth. 


1 94  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Jan.  1757. 

have  had  occasion  to  converse  ;  entirely  different  from  that 
pertness  and  affectation  of  wit  which  is  too  common  in  our  own 
country.1 

The  following  letter  (which  I  received  two  or  three  months 
after)  was  dated  on  this  day  2 : 

Though  you  and  I  may  differ  in  some  little  things,  I  have  long 
loved  you  and  your  brother,  and  wished  and  prayed  for  your  success, 
as  zealous  revivers  of  experimental  Christianity.  If  I  differ  from 
you  in  temper  and  design,  or  in  the  essentials  of  religion,  I  am  sure 
the  error  must  lie  on  my  side.  Blessed  be  God  for  hearts  to  love 
one  another  ! 

As  I  knew  your  correspondence  must  be  very  extensive,  and  your 
labours  various  and  incessant,  I  intended  to  have  kept  my  peculiar 
love  for  you  a  secret  till  we  arrived  where  seas  shall  no  more  roll 
between  us.  But  your  late  pious  charity  3  constrains  me  to  give  you 
the  trouble  of  a  letter.  I  am  confident  God  will  attend  it  with  His 
blessing,  and  render  you  useful  at  the  distance  of  near  four  thousand 
miles. 

How  great  is  the  honour  God  has  conferred  upon  you  in  making 
you  a  restorer  of  declining  religion  !  And  after  struggling  through  so 
much  opposition,  and  standing  almost  single,  with  what  pleasure  must 
you  behold  so  many  raised  up,  zealous  in  the  same  cause,  though 
perhaps  not  ranked  under  the  same  name,  nor  openly  connected 
with  you ! 

I  am  endeavouring,  in  my  poor  manner,  to  promote  the  same 
cause  in  this  part  of  our  guilty  globe.  My  success  is  not  equal  to 
my  wishes,  but  it  vastly  surpasses  both  my  deserts  and  my  expectation. 
I  have  baptized  near  one  hundred  and  fifty  adult  negroes,  of  whom 
about  sixty4  are  communicants.  Unpolished  as  they  are,  I  find  some 
of  them  have  the  art  to  dissemble.  But,  blessed  be  God,  the  generality 
of  them,  as  far  as  I  can  learn,  are  real  Christians,  and  I  have  no  doubt 
but  sundry  of  them  are  genuine  children  of  Abraham.  Among  them  in 
the  first  place,  and  then  among  the  poor  white  people,  I  have  distributed 
the  books  you  sent  me. 

I  desire  you  to  communicate  this  to  your  brother,  as  equally 
intended  for  him.     And  let  me  and  my  congregation,  particularly  my 


1  Cf.   another   statement  to  the   same  the  sake  of  his  real  life-work  so  provi- 

effect,  Jan.  I.  1778.  dentially,    failed.    Cf.    above,    pp.    125, 

s  His   correspondence  with    the  Rev.  149. 

Samuel  Davies,   of  Virginia,    interested  3  He  refers  to  the  books  Wesley  had 

him,    as  did  everything  relating  to  the  sent, 

country  in  which  he  so  painfully,  yet  for  '  The  1st  ed.  says  'fifty.' 


Feb.  1757.]  In  London  195 

poor  negro    converts,   be  favoured  with  your   prayers.     In  return  for 
which  I  hope  neither  you  nor  your  cause  will  be  forgotten  by, 
Reverend  sir, 

Your  affectionate  fellow  labourer 

And  obliged  servant, 

Samuel  Davies. 
Hanover  (in  Virginia), 
Jan.  28,   1757. 

Sun.  30. — Knowing  God  was  able  to  strengthen  me  for  His 
own  work,  I  officiated  at  Snowsfields  as  usual  before  I  went  to 
West  Street,  where  the  service  took  me  up  between  four  and  five 
hours.  I  preached  in  the  evening,  and  met  the  society,  and  my 
strength  was  as  my  day.  I  felt  no  more  weariness  at  night  than 
at  eight  in  the  morning. 

Feb.  6,  Sun. — The  number  of  communicants  at  Spitalfields 
made  this  Lord's  Day  a  little  more  laborious  than  the  former. 
But  God  added  proportionably  to  my  strength,  so  I  felt  no 
difference. 

Thur.  10. — At  the  request  of  the  author,  I  took  some  pains 
in  correcting  an  ingenious  book,  shortly  to  be  published.  But 
the  more  I  consider  them,  the  more  I  doubt  of  all  systems  of 
astronomy.  I  doubt  whether  we  can  certainly  know  either  the 
distance  or  magnitude  of  any  star  in  the  firmament.  Else  why 
do  astronomers  so  immensely  differ,  even  with  regard  to  the 
distance  of  the  sun  from  the  earth  ? — some  affirming  it  to  be 
only  three,2  others  ninety,  millions  of  miles  ! 

About  this  time  the  following  note  was  given  into  my  hand 
at  Wapping : 

John  White,  master-at-arms  aboard  his  Majesty's  ship  Tartar,  now 
at  Plymouth,  desires  to  return  Almighty  God  thanks  for  himself  and  all 
the  ship's  company  for  their  preservation  in  four  different  engagements 
they  have  had  with  four  privateers  which  they  have  taken,  particularly 
the  last,  wherein  the  enemy  first  boarded  them.  They  cleared  the  deck, 
boarded  in  their  turn,  and  took  the  ship,  thirty  of  the  enemy  being 
killed,  and  fifty  more  wounded.  Only  two  of  our  crew  were  wounded, 
who,  it  is  hoped,  will  recover. 


1  He  preached  during  February  in  or       the  Sermon  Register),  but  not  the  dates. 
near  London.     The  texts  are  given  (see  -  The  1st  ed.  has  '  twelve.' 


196  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [Feb.  1757. 

Wed.  16. — Calling  on  a  friend,  I  found  him  just  seized  with 
all  the  symptoms  of  a  pleurisy.1  I  advised  him  to  apply  a 
brimstone  plaster,  and  in  a  few  hours  he  was  perfectly  well. 
Now  to  what  end  should  this  patient  have  taken  a  heap 
of  drugs  and  lost  twenty  ounces  of  blood  ?  To  what  end  ? 
Why,  to  oblige  the  doctor  and  apothecary.  Enough  !  Reason 
good  ! 2 

Tues.  22. — I  preached  at  Deptford.  Even  this  wilderness 
does  at  length  '  blossom  and  bud  as  the  rose.'  Never  was  there 
such  life  in  this  little  flock  before,  nor  such  an  increase  in  the 
number  of  hearers.3 

The  following  letter  was  wrote  on  Saturday  the  28th  4  : 

Reverend  and  dear  Sir, 

When  I  was  at  Freshford,  on  January  30,  in  the  morning  I 
scrupled  singing  those  words, 

Ye  now  afflicted  are, 

And  hated  for  His  name, 
And  in  your  bodies  bear 

The  tokens  of  the  Lamb. 

I  thought  I  was  not  afflicted  or  hated  for  the  name  of  Christ.  But  this 
scruple  was  soon  removed,  for  at  Bradford,5  in  the  evening,  I  was 
pressed  for  a  soldier,  and  carried  to  an  inn  where  the  gentlemen  were. 
Mr.  Pearce,  hearing  of  it,  came  and  offered  bail  for  my  appearance  the 
next  day.  They  said  they  would  take  his  word  for  ten  thousand 
pounds,  but  not  for  me  ;  I  must  go  to  the  Round-house6  (the  little  stone 
room  on  the  side  of  the  bridge) ;  so  thither  I  was  conveyed  by  five 
soldiers.  There  I  found  nothing  to  sit  on  but  a  stone,  and  nothing  to 
lie  on  but  a  little  straw.  But  soon  after  a  friend  sent  me  a  chair,  on 
which  I  sat  all  night.     I  had  a  double  guard,  twelve  soldiers  in  all — 


1  Cf.  above,  p.  156.     He  lost  no  oppor-  writer    is    described    as    'one    of    our 

tunity  of  practising  his  'primitive  physic,'  preachers';  also  above,  vol.  iii.  p.  263. 
in   the  value    of   which    he    firmly  be-  5  In     Wiltshire.       Thomas     Mitchell 

lieved,  both  for  himself  and  his  people.  says  :    '  I    went   into    Wiltshire,    where 

8  On  Feb.  18  he  preached  at  the  Bull-  Mr.  Pearce,  of  Bradford,  was  a  father  to 

and-Mouth.  me.'     So  he  was  to  Thomas  Olivers  in 

3  See  E.M.P.  vol.  iv.  p.  139.  the  horrors  of  small-pox  and  in  a  terror 

4  For  the  remarkable  family  of  of  debt.  E.M.P.  vol.  i.  p.  252  ;  vol.  ii. 
Hitchens — father  and  four  sons— see  pp.  65,  72;  also  above,  July  1751  ;  and 
Green's  Bibliography,  Nos.  89  and  102  ;  W.H.S.  vol.  vi.  p.  116. 

Works.,    vol.    xiii.    p.    341,    where   this  <•  Still  standing.     See  W.H.S.  vol.  vi. 

letter  ii  given  in  shorter  form,  and  the  p.  115. 


Feb.  1757.]  In  London  197 

two  without,  one  in  the  door,  and  the  rest  within.  I  passed  the  night 
without  sleep,  but  not  without  rest ;  for,  blessed  be  God,  my  peace  was 
not  broken  a  moment.  My  body  was  in  prison,  but  I  was  Christ's 
freeman  ;  my  soul  was  at  liberty.  And  even  there  I  found  some  work 
to  do  for  God :  I  had  fair  opportunity  of  speaking  to  them  who  durst 
not  leave  me.     And  I  hope  it  was  not  in  vain. 

In  the  morning  I  had  leave  to  go  to  a  private  house  with  only  one 
soldier  to  guard  me.  About  three  in  the  afternoon  I  was  carried  before 
the  Commissioners,  and  part  of  the  Act  read,  which  empowered  them 
to  take  such  able-bodied  men  as  followed  no  business  and  had  no 
lawful  or  sufficient  maintenance.  Then  I  said,  '  If  these  are  the  men 
you  are  to  take,  I  am  not  a  proper  person,  for  I  do  follow  a  lawful 
calling  in  partnership  with  my  brother,  and  have  also  an  estate.'  The 
Justice  said,  '  If  you  will  make  oath  of  that,  I  think  we  must  let  you 
go.'  But  the  Commissioners  said  no  man  could  swear  for  himself.  I 
said,  '  Gentlemen,  give  me  time,  and  you  shall  have  full  proof.'  After 
a  long  debate  they  took  a  fifty-pound  bond  for  my  appearance  on  that 
day  three  weeks.  All  the  time  I  could  bless  God  that  He  counted  me 
worthy  to  suffer  for  His  name's  sake. 

The  next  day  I  set  out  for  Cornwall.  I  tarried  at  home  four  days, 
and  then,  setting  out  with  my  brother  James,  came  to  Bradford  last 
Saturday.  On  Monday,  in  the  afternoon,  I  appeared  before  the 
Commissioners  with  the  writings  of  my  estate.  When  the  Justice 
had  perused  them,  and  my  brother  had  taken  his  oath,  I  was  set 
at  liberty.  So  the  fierceness  of  man  turns  to  God's  praise,  and  all 
this  is  for  the  furtherance  of  the  gospel.  I  hope  you  will  return  God 
thanks  for  my  deliverance  out  of  the  hands  of  unreasonable  and 
wicked  men. 

William  Hitchens.1 

Sun.  27. — After  the  service  at  Snowsfields  I  found  myself 
much  weaker  than  usual,  and  feared  I  should  not  be  able  to  go 
through  the  work  of  the  day,  which  is  equal  to  preaching  eight 
times.  I  therefore  prayed  that  God  would  send  me  help,  and  as 
soon  as  I  had  done  preaching  at  West  Street,  a  clergyman  who 
was  come  to  town  for  a  few  days  came  and  offered  me  his  service. 
So  when  I  asked  for  strength,  God  gave  me  strength  ;  when  for 
help,  He  gave  this  also. 

I  had  been  long  desired  to  see  the  little  flock  at  Norwich,  but 
this  I  could  not  decently  do  till  I  was  able  to  rebuild  part  of  the 
Foundery  there,  to  which  I    was  engaged  by  my  lease.     A  sum 


1  He  was  an  itinerant  preacher  from  1745  t0  '758. 


198  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [March  1757. 

sufficient  for  that  end  was  now  unexpectedly  given  me  by  one 
of  whom  I  had  no  personal  knowledge.  So  I  set  out  on  Monday 
the  28th,  and  preached  in  Norwich  on  Tuesday  evening,  MARCH  1. 
Mr.  Walsh  had  been  there  twelve  or  fourteen  days,  and  not 
without  a  blessing.  After  preaching  I  entered  into  contract 
with  a  builder,  and  gave  him  part  of  the  money  in  hand.  On 
Wednesday  and  Thursday  I  settled  all  our  spiritual  and  temporal 
business,  and  on  Friday  and  Saturday  returned  with  Mr.  Walsh 
to  London. 

Sun.  6. — I  had  no  help,  and  I  wanted  none,  for  God  renewed 
my  strength.  But  on  Sunday  the  13th,  finding  myself  weak  at 
Snowsfields,  I  prayed  (if  He  saw  good)  that  God  would  send  me 
help  at  the  chapel,  and  I  had  it.  A  clergyman  whom  I  never 
saw  before  came  and  offered  me  his  assistance,  and  as  soon  as  I 
had  done  preaching,  Mr.  Fletcher '  came,  who  had  just  then 
been  ordained  priest,  and  hastened  to  the  chapel  on  purpose  to 
assist,  as  he  supposed  me  to  be  alone. 

Mon.  14. — I  went  with  T[homas]  Walsh  to  Canterbury, 
where  I  preached  in  the  evening  with  great  enlargement  of 
spirit,  but  with  greater  in  the  morning,  being  much  refreshed 
at  the  sight  of  so  large  a  number  of  soldiers.     And  is  not  God 


1  Rev.  John  Fletcher.     John  William  Sacred  Subjects,    Dublin,    1784,   p.   17  ; 

de  la  Flechere,  born  at  Nyon,  Switzer-  Meth.  Mag.  1798,  p.  92  (quoted  in  Tyer- 

land,   in    1729.      A   military   officer,   in  man's  Life  of  Wesley,  vol.  ii.  p.   263). 

17152  he  came  to  England  and  obtained  See     also,     and     especially,     Wesley's 

a   tutorship   in   the   family   of    Thomas  '  Short  Account   of  the  Life  and  Death 

Hill   M.P-,  Tern  Hall,  Shropshire.     In  of  Rev.  John  Fletcher'  {Works,  vol.  xi. 

the    parliamentary    season    he    accom-  pp.   273-365)   and    Tyerman's    Wesley's 

panied    the    family   to     London,    heard  Designated     Successor.       In      Wesley's 

the  Methodists,  and  joined   the  society  Sermon      Register     '  C,'    the     Chapel, 

(probably  at  West  Street).     After  con-  is   always    West    Street.       Dr.    George 

suiting  Wesley,  he  took  orders   in   the  Smith     {Hist,    of  Methodism,     vol.    i. 

Church  of  England.     He  was  ordained  p.  276)  says  that  Fletcher  came  to  the 

at    Whitehall    and    hastened     to    West  Foundery ;  Tyerman  says  that  he  came 

Street  to  help  Wesley.     From  this  time  to  Snowsfields  ;  but  both  are  wrong.    In 

onward  he  became  Wesley's  close  ally  in  the   absence   of  proof  to    the  contrary, 

personal   friendship,   work,  and  contro-  Wesley's  statement  in  the  text  holds  the 

versv_his    confidential     adviser.       For  field.     Moreover,  it  was  physically  im- 

Fletcher's   correspondence  with  Wesley  probable,  if  not  impossible,  that  Fletcher 

in  1756  with  respect  to  his  acceptance  of  could  have  reached  either  the  Foundery 

a  title  to  ordination,  and,  a  month  later,  or    Snowsfields  in  time    for    the    com- 

with  reference  to  '  the  sacrament  in  your  munion  service  so  quickly  after  his  ordi- 

chapels,'   see    Collection    of  Letters    on  nation  at  Whitehall. 


March  1757.) 


In  London  199 


able  to  kindle  the  same  fire  in  the  fleet  which  He  has  already 
begun  to  kindle  in  the  army? 

Wed.  16. — I  had  the  satisfaction  to  find  an  old  stout-hearted 
sinner,  who  had  been  defying  God  for  near  fourscore  years,  now 
become  as  a  little  child,  and  complaining  of  his  own  ignorance 
and  ingratitude  to  God. 

Fri.  18. — I  returned  to  London.1 

Sun.  20. — Mr.  Fletcher  helped  me  again.  How  wonderful 
arc  the  ways  of  God  !  When  my  bodily  strength  failed,  and 
none  in  England  were  able  and  willing  to  assist  me,  He  sent 
me  help  from  the  mountains  of  Switzerland,  and  an  helpmeet 
for  me  in  every  respect.  Where  could  I  have  found  such 
another  ? ' 

Fri.  25. — After  I  had  read  to  a  serious  clergyman  the  con- 
clusion of  The  Doctrine  of  Original  Sin?  he  moved  that  we  might 
spend  some  time  in  prayer.  And  I  found  great  liberty  of  spirit 
in  praying  for  Dr.  Taylor,  and  a  strong  hope  that  God  would 
show  him  '  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus.' 

About  this  time  many  of  the  children  of  God  rested  from 
their  labours. 

On  Sunday  the  13th  I  buried  Elizabeth  Langdon,  who,  after  severe 
inward  trials,  was  for  several  days  in  great  pain,  but  in  great  peace. 
On  Sunday  the  20th  I  buried  Hannah  Lee,  a  pattern  of  industry, 
meekness,  and  patience.  And  on  Sunday  the  27th  I  buried  Mary 
Naylor,4  who  for  several  years  was  a  most  eminent  pattern  of  truly 
Christian  courage,  plainness  of  speech,  and  plainness  of  apparel.  A 
week  before  I  had  an  opportunity  of  telling  her  all  that  was  in  my 
heart  concerning  her  change  (not  for  the  better)  in  all  these  particulars. 
In  the  beginning  of  her  illness  she  was  in  great  darkness  and  distress  of 
soul,  but  while  prayer  was  made  for  her  her  bodily  pain  ceased  and  her 


1  And  preached  at  Snowsfields.  pp.  406,  448  ;  vol.  ii.  pp.  14,  82,  96,  194, 

-  On    March    24,    from    London,   he  214.      Tuck's    Meth.    in    Frome    gives 

wrote   to   Thomas   Olivers   (Metk.   Rec.  Betty  and  Sarah  [Naylor],  toy-makers, 

Sept.  23,  1881,  p.  717).  Avon  Street,   Bath,   Sept.   1757.      John 

'  March  23  is  the  date  at  the  end  of  Wesley  does  not  say  he  buried   her  in 

Part    IV.      See    Green's    Bibliography,  London.      She  was  with  C.   Wesley  in 

No.  182;   Works,  vol.  ix.  pp.  196-464;  the  Devizes  riots,  Feb.  1747.     He  greatly 

W.H.S.  vol.  viii.  p.  53.  admired  '  our  faithful  Mary  Naylor,'  and 

4  For  the  identification  of  Mary  Naylor,  wrote  eight  hymns  on  her  death.     See 

compare   C.    Wesley's  Journal,    vol.    i.  also  W.H.S.  vol.  vi.  p.  57. 


200  John    Wesley  s  Journal  rApmi757. 

soul  received  comfort;  and  on  Monday  the  2ist,  just  at  midnight,  she 
quietly  fell  asleep. 

Wed.  30.1 — I  rode  to  a  gentleman's  near  Beaconsfield,  and 
preached  at  six  in  the  evening  in  a  large  convenient  place  filled 
with  serious  hearers,  several  of  whom  had  come  five  or  six  miles. 

Thur.  31.— I  was  earnestly  importuned  to  go  over  to  High 
Wycombe.  I  went  and  preached  there  at  noon  on  the  parable 
of  the  Sower.  Perhaps  some  of  the  seed  which  has  been  sown 
here  for  many  years  will  at  length  bring  forth  fruit.2 

At  six  it  seemed  as  if  the  whole  town  of  Beaconsfield  was 
assembled  together.  And  I  bear  them  witness,  they  gave  earnest 
heed,  high  and  low,  to  the  things  which  were  spoken.  A  large 
number  of  them  were  present  in  the  morning,  on  Friday, 
APRIL  i.  Fair  beginnings,  these!  But  'he  that  endureth  to 
the  end,  the  same  shall  be  saved.' 

In  returning  to  London  I  read  a  tract  on  TJie  Law 
of  Nature,  wrote  by  a  counsellor  of  Geneva.  I  am  sorry  to 
find  Dr.  Taylor's  poison  spread  to  the  Alps  also  !  And  even 
printed  and  published  at  Geneva,  without  any  hindrance  or 
animadversion ! 

Sun.  3. — I  paid  one  more  visit  to  Thomas  Singleton,  an 
amiable  young  man,  called  away  at  five-and-twenty,  in  the 
dawn  of  a  flourishing  business.  The  next  day  his  spirit 
returned  to  God. 

On  Good  Friday,  in  the  evening,  at  the  meeting  of  the 
society,  God  was  eminently  present  with  us.  I  read  over  and 
enlarged  upon  Joseph  Alleine's  Directions  for  a  Tliorough 
Conversion  to  God,  and  desired  all  who  were  able  would 
meet  me  on  Monday  that  we  might  '  perform  our  vows  unto 
the  Lord.' 

Mon.  n. — At  five  in  the  evening  about  twelve  hundred  of 
the  society  met  me  at  Spitalfields.  I  expected  two  to  help  me, 
but  none  came.  I  held  out  till  between  seven  and  eight.  I 
was  then  scarce  able  to  walk  or  speak,  but  I  looked  up  and 
received    strength.       At   half-hour   after   nine    God    broke    in 


'  On  Saturday,  March  26,  he  preached       places  named   in  the  Journal ;    also  at 
at  Wapping.  'Chester    Nor'    (?)    Westminster,    and 

2  During  March  he  preached    at   the       Deptford. 


April  1757.] 


In  the  Midlands  201 


mightily  upon  the  congregation.  '  Great '  indeed  '  was  our 
glorying'  in  Him;  we  were  'filled  with  consolation.'  And 
when  I  returned  home  between  ten  and  eleven  I  was  no  more 
tired  than  at  ten  in  the  morning. 

Tues.  12. — I  set  out  at  five  for  Bedford.  About  seven  the 
rain  began.  It  did  not  intermit  till  noon,  and  was  driven  upon 
us  by  a  most  furious  wind.  In  the  afternoon  we  had  some 
intervals  of  fair  weather,  and  before  five  we  reached  Bedford. 

Mr.  Parker,1  now  mayor,  received  us  gladly.  He  hath  not 
borne  the  sword  in  vain.  There  is  no  cursing  or  swearing 
heard  in  these  streets  ;  no  work  done  on  the  Lord's  Day. 
Indeed,  there  is  no  open  wickedness  of  any  kind  now  to  be 
seen  in  Bedford.  Oh  what  may  not  one  magistrate  do  who  has 
a  single  eye  and  a  confidence  in  God ! 

Both  in  the  evening  and  the  following  morning  I  preached  2 
the  law  as  well  as  the  gospel.  The  next  evening  I  preached 
on  '  All  things  are  ready  :  come  ye  to  the  marriage.'  And  God 
eminently  confirmed  His  word.  It  seemed  as  if  not  one  would 
be  left  behind. 

TJiur.  14. — We  rode  to  Leicester,  where  John  Brandon3  has 
gathered  a  small  society.  I  preached  at  seven;  the  house4 
(supposed  to  contain  a  thousand  people)  was  thoroughly  filled. 
I  believe  there  were  forty  or  fifty  soldiers  ;  and  all  heard  as 
for  life. 

Fri.  15. — Being  informed  the  straight  road  to  Birmingham 
was  scarce  passable,  we  went  round  by  Coventry.  Before  six 
we  reached  Birmingham. 

Sat.  16. — I  spoke  to  each  member  of  the  society.  What 
havoc  have  the  two  opposite  extremes,  Mysticism  and   Anti- 


1  See  above,  p.  85.  history  dating   from   1682.     Among  the 

2  In  the  room  over  the  hog-stye.     See  original  trustees  was  John  Coltman.     In 
below,  pp.  358,  359.  1753  it  was  purchased  by  Mr.  William 

s  A  dragoon,  said  to  have  been  the  Lewis,  a  hosier,  High  Street,  Leicester, 

first  Methodist  in  Leicester.     He  entered  in  a  licensed  room  of  whose  house  the 

the  itinerancy  in  1765  and  left  it  in  1766  first   Methodist   service   was  held.     Mr. 

(MetA.  Mag.  1834,  pp.  102-3).  ar*d  Mrs-  Lewis  never  belonged  to  the 

*  See     article     by    W.     W.     Stamp,  Methodists,    but     to    the     Presbyterian 

Meth.  Mag.  1834,  p.   102.     Also  above,  Great  Meeting.     This  was  the  '  House ' 

vol.  ii.  p.  463.     If,  as  seems  more  than  referred  to  in  the  text.     Wesley  refers  to 

probable,    the  '  House '  is   the  same   as  John    Brandon    in    a   letter   to   Walter 

'  The  Barn,'   Millstone   Lane,    it  had   a  Sellon  ( Works,  vol.  xiii.  p.  43). 


202  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Apmi767 

nomianism,  made  among  this  once  earnest  and  simple  people  ! 
Had  it  not  been  good  for  those  men  not  to  have  been  born,  by 
whom  these  little  ones  have  been  offended  ? 

In  the  afternoon  I  rode  to  Dudley,  where  the  work  of  God 
increases  greatly,  notwithstanding  the  immense  scandal  which 
has  been  given  by  those  who  once  rejoiced  in  the  love  of  God. 
One  of  these  has  lately  killed  his  own  child  by  a  blow  upon 
the  head.  After  preaching  I  talked  with  M.  B.,  who  has  been 
long  '  a  mother  in  Israel.' 

I  was  under  strong  convictions  [said  she]  when  twelve  or  thirteen 
years  old,  and  soon  after  found  peace  with  God.  But  I  lost  it  by 
degrees,  and  then  contented  myself  with  living  a  quiet,  harmless  life  till 
Mr.  Charles  Wesley  came  to  Wednesbury  in  the  year  1742.  Soon  after 
this  my  convictions  returned,  though  not  with  terror,  as  before,  but 
with  strong  hope,  and  in  a  little  time  I  recovered  peace  and  joy  in 
believing.  This  I  never  lost  since,  but  for  forty-eight  hours  (by  speak- 
ing angrily  to  my  child).  Not  long  after  Mr.  Jones  talked  particularly 
with  me  about  the  wickedness  of  my  heart.  I  went  home  in  great 
trouble,  which  did  not  cease,  till  one  day,  sitting  in  my  house,  I  heard 
a  voice  say,  in  my  inmost  soul,  '  Be  ye  holy ;  for  I  am  holy.'  From 
that  hour  for  a  year  and  a  quarter  (though  I  never  lost  my  peace)  I  did 
nothing  but  long  and  weep  and  pray  for  inward  holiness.  I  was  then 
sitting  one  day,  Aug.  23,  1744,  about  eight  in  the  morning,  musing  and 
praying  as  usual,  when  I  seemed  to  hear  a  loud  voice,  saying  at  once  to 
my  heart  and  to  my  outward  ears,  '  This  day  shall  salvation  come  to 
this  house.'  I  ran  upstairs,  and  presently  the  power  of  God  came  upon 
me,  so  that  I  shook  all  over  like  a  leaf.  Then  a  voice  said,  '  This  day 
is  salvation  come  to  this  house.'  At  the  instant  I  felt  an  entire  change. 
I  was  full  of  love  and  full  of  God.  I  had  the  witness  in  myself  that  He 
had  made  an  end  of  sin  and  taken  my  whole  heart  for  ever.  And  from 
that  moment  I  have  never  lost  the  witness  nor  felt  anything  in  my  heart 
but  pure  love. 

Sun.  17. — The  rain  constrained  me  to  preach  within  at 
eight,  though  the  house  would  ill  contain  the  congregation  ; 
but  we  prayed  that  God,  if  He  saw  good,  would  '  stay  the 
bottles  of  heaven '  for  the  sake  of  those  at  Wednesbury.  And 
before  we  came  thither  the  rain  stayed,  so  that  I  proclaimed 
Christ  crucified  in  the  open  air  to  such  a  congregation  as 
no  house  could  have  contained.  At  five  I  preached  to  a  still 
larger   congregation    on    '  He    that    believeth    shall   be    saved.' 


Apm  1757.]  In  Liverpool  203 

As  soon  as   I  had  done  the  rain  returned,  and  continued  great 
part  of  the  night. 

Mon.  18. — In  the  evening  I  preached  at  Bilbrook  to  an 
earnest  congregation,  and  joined  twenty  of  them  in  a  society, 
one  of  whom  had  Christ  clearly  revealed  in  him  thirty  years 
ago ;  but  he  could  find  none  who  understood  what  he  said  till 
the  Methodists  (so  called)  came.  He  clave  to  them  immediately, 
rejoicing  with  them,  and  over  them,  who  were  partakers  of  like 
precious  faith.1 

Tues.  19. — Between  Nantwich  and  Poole  a  thick,  black  cloud 
came  across  us,  out  of  which  issued  such  a  violent  wind  as  was 
ready  to  bear  us  off  our  horses  ;  but  in  five  minutes'  time  the 
wind  fell,  and  the  cloud  bore  clear  away. 

Wed.  20. — The  congregation  at  Chester  in  the  evening  was  as 
quiet  and  serious  as  that  at  the  Foundery,  and  the  society  was 
near  a  third  part  larger  than  when  I  was  here  in  autumn. 

Thur.  21. — I  rode  to  Liverpool,2  where  I  found  about  half  of 
those  I  left  in  the  society.  James  S[cholefie]ld  had  swept  away 
the  rest,  in  order  to  which  he  had  told  lies  innumerable.  But 
none  who  make  lies  their  refuge  will  prosper.  A  little  while  and 
his  building  will  moulder  away. 

Sun.  24. — We  had  two  very  useful  sermons  at  St.  Thomas's 
church 3  :  the  one  on  counting  the  cost  before  we  begin  to 
build,  the  other  on  '  Be  ye  angry,  and  sin  not'  And  both  of 
them  were  exactly  suitable  to  the  present  case  of  many  in  the 
congregation. 

The  upper  part  of  the  high  spire  of  the  church  was  blown 
down  in  the  late  storm.  The  stones,  being  bound  together  by 
strong  iron  cramps,  hung  waving  in  the  air  for  some  time. 
Then  they  broke  through  roof,  gallery,  pews,  and  pavement,  and 
made  a  deep  dint  in  the  ground. 


1  He  preached  at  Alpraham  probably  3  '  Our   parish    church,'   Wesley   calls 

on  the  18th  (Sermon  Register);  also,  in  it;    see   May   6,    1759,    April   5,    1761, 

April,  at  Dewsbury.  March  22,  1778.     It  stood  about  midway 

■  See  Tyerman,  vol.  ii.  p.  274 ;  W.H.S.  between   the    Custom    House    and    Pitt 

vol.  ii.  p.  67  ;    Myles's    Chron.  Hist.  p.  Street  Chapel.      It   was   consecrated   in 

448.      'James  Schofield'  appears  in  the  1750,  the  year  of  the  erection  of  the  first 

account-book  of  the  Manchester  Round.  Pitt  Street,  and  demolished  in  1906.   This 

Wesley    preached  in  and  around  Liver-  was   not   the  'Old   Church,'  which  was 

pool  from  the  21st  to  the  30th.  named  St.  Nicholas. 


204  John   Wesley  s  Journal  (May  1767. 

Mon.  25. —  I  walked  to  the  Infirmary,  standing  on  a  hill,  at 
the  north  end  of  the  town.  The  Seamen's  Hospital  is  joined 
to  it  on  each  side  by  semicircular  piazzas.  All  is  extremely 
clean  and  neat,  at  least  equal  to  anything  in  London.  The 
old  seamen  have  smaller  or  larger  allowance,  according  to  their 
families ;  so  that  nothing  is  wanting  to  make  their  lives  easy  and 
comfortable — but  the  love  of  God. 

I  afterwards  spent  an  hour  with  Mr.  Peter  Whitefield,1  a 
man  of  strong  understanding  and  various  learning.  His 
Dissertation  in  Defence  of  the  Hebrew  Points  (which  he  sent 
me  the  next  morning)  is  far  more  satisfactory  than  anything 
which  I  ever  heard  or  read  upon  the  subject. 

Thur.  28. — I  talked  with  one  who,  by  the  advice  of  his 
pastor,  had,  very  calmly  and  deliberately,  beat  his  wife  with 
a  large  stick  till  she  was  black  and  blue  almost  from  head  to 
foot.  And  he  insisted  it  was  his  duty  so  to  do,  because  she  was 
surly  and  ill-natured  ;  and  that  he  was  full  of  faith  all  the  time 
he  was  doing  it,  and  had  been  so  ever  since. 

Sat.  30. — I  took  a  view  of  the  Free  School,  a  truly  noble 
benefaction.  Here  seventy  boys  and  thirty  girls  are  entirely 
provided  for.  The  building  forms  three  sides  of  a  square, 
and  is  rather  elegant  than  magnificent.  The  children  are 
taught  to  work,  in  their  several  ways,  as  well  as  to  read  and 
write.  The  school,  the  dining-rooms,  and  the  lodgings  are  all 
plain  and  clean.  The  whole  was  the  gift  of  one  man,  Mr.  Blundell, 
a  merchant  of  Liverpool. 

May  2,  Mon. — I  preached  at  Warrington  about  noon  to  a 
wild,  staring  people  (very  few  excepted),  who  seemed  just  ripe 
for  mischief.  But  the  bridle  was  in  their  jaws.  In  the  evening 
I  preached  at  Manchester.2 

Wed.  4. — I  rode  over  to  Hayfield,  and  preached  at  one  in  the 
church  to  a  congregation  gathered  from  all  parts. 

Thur.  5. — I  inquired  of  John  Johnson  concerning  Miss  Beres- 
ford.3     The  sum  of  his  account  was  this  : 

She  was  always  an  innocent,  sober  young  woman,  having  the  form 
of  godliness,  till  she  was  convinced  of  sin,  and  soon  after  justified.     She 


See  W.H.S.  vol.  iv.  pp.  no,  151.  s  '  Miss  Judith  Beresford-asweet,  but 

Early  in  May  he  preached  at  Bolton.       short-lived  flower.'     See  above,  p.  HO. 


May  1757,]  Judith  Beresford  205 

was  a  pattern  both  of  piety  and  industry.  Notwithstanding  her  fortune 
and  her  sickliness,  she  was  never  unemployed ;  when  she  had  no  other 
work,  working  for  the  poor.  And  the  whole  tenor  of  her  conversation 
was  such  that  it  is  still  a  common  saying,  '  If  Miss  Beresford  is  not  gone 
to  heaven,  nobody  ever  will.' 

She  had  a  vehement  love  to  the  word  of  God,  and  spared  no  pains 
in  order  to  hear  it.  Frequently  she  would  not  go  to  bed  all  night  lest 
she  should  miss  the  morning  preaching.  She  lost  no  opportunity  of 
meeting  with  her  brethren,  to  whom  her  heart  was  closely  united  : 
nor  was  she  afraid  or  ashamed  to  own  the  poorest  of  them,  wherever 
she  met  them,  and  whatever  company  she  was  in.  The  very  sight 
of  them  occasioned  a  joy  in  her  soul  which  she  neither  could  nor 
desired  to  hide. 

^Vhen  her  weakness  confined  her  to  her  room  she  rejoiced  with 
joy  unspeakable  ;  more  especially  when  she  was  delivered  from  all  her 
doubts  concerning  Christian  perfection.  Never  was  any  one  more  athirst 
for  this,  for  the  whole  mind  that  was  in  Christ.  And  she  earnestly 
exhorted  all  her  brethren  vehemently  to  press  after  it. 

The  more  her  bodily  strength  decayed,  the  more  she  was  strengthened 
in  spirit.  She  called  upon  all  that  were  with  her,  '  Help  me  to  rejoice ; 
help  me  to  praise  God ' ;  having  no  fear,  but  a  jealousy  over  herself 
lest  she  should  exceed  in  her  desire  to  be  with  Christ. 

As  soon  as  I  came  to  Ashbourne  she  sent  for  me,  and  broke  out, 
'  I  am  just  at  my  journey's  end.  What  a  mercy  that  I,  who  have  done 
so  little  for  God,  should  be  so  soon  taken  up  to  Him !  Oh,  I  am  full 
of  the  love  of  God  !  I  dare  not  exercise  my  faith  fully  upon  God. 
The  glory  of  the  Lord  is  so  great  that  I  cannot  bear  it ;  I  am  over- 
whelmed ;  my  natural  life  is  almost  gone  with  the  brightness  of  His 
presence.  Sometimes  I  am  even  forced  to  cry  out,  Lord,  stay  Thy 
hand  till  I  come  into  glory?  I  asked,  '  Have  you  lately  felt  any  remains 
of  sin  in  you  ? '  She  said,  '  I  felt  pride  some  weeks  ago.'  And  it  seems 
this  was  the  last  time.  She  added, '  I  have  now  no  will ;  the  will  of  God 
is  mine.  I  can  bring  my  dearest  friends  before  the  Lord  ;  and,  while  I 
am  praying  for  them,  the  glory  of  the  Lord  so  overpowers  me  that  I  am 
lost,  and  adore  in  silence  the  God  of  heaven.'  She  cried  out,  '  Tell  all 
from  me  that  perfection  is  attainable ;  and  exhort  all  to  press  after  it. 
What  a  blessing  is  t  that  I  have  no  weary  hours ;  though  I  am  confined 
to  my  bed  night  and  day,  and  can  take  scarce  anything  but  water  to 
refresh  me,  yet  I  am  like  a  giant  refreshed  with  wine.' 

Afterward  she  broke  out,  '  If  I  had  lived  in  what  the  world  calls 
pleasure,  what  a  miserable  creature  should  I  have  been  now  !  What 
should  I  be  if  I  had  no  God  on  my  side  ?  When  the  fire  has  made  me 
bright,  then  I  shall  go  to  my  God.'  She  prayed  largely  for  all  states  of 
mankind ;   but  particularly  for  the  prosperity  of  the  Church,  and  for 

VOL.   IV  13 


2o6  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [May  it67. 

the  society  at  Ashbourne,  that  God  would  continue  and  increase  His 
work  among  them. 

When  she  altered  for  death,  she  called  for  her  mother  and  brothers, 
to  each  of  whom  she  gave  an  earnest  exhortation.  Then  she  said, 
'  Now  I  have  no  more  to  do  here ;  I  am  ready  to  die.  Send  to 
Mr.  W[esley],  and  tell  him  I  am  sorry  I  did  not  sooner  believe  the 
doctrine  of  perfect  holiness.  Blessed  be  God,  I  now  know  it  to  be 
the  truth ! '  After  greatly  rejoicing  in  God  for  two  days  more,  she 
said  one  morning, '  I  dreamed  last  night  I  heard  a  voice,  Christ  will 
come  to-day  for  His  bride.  It  is  for  me.  He  will  come  for  me  to-day.' 
And  a  few  hours  after,  without  one  struggle,  or  sigh,  or  groan,  she  sweetly 
fell  asleep. 

One  who  was  intimately  acquainted  with  her  writes  thus  : 

Glory  be  to  God  for  the  blessed  privilege  I  enjoyed  of  being  with 
her,  night  and  day,  for  a  month  before  she  died  !  When  I  went  to  her 
first,  she  had  kept  her  bed  some  days,  and  was  extremely  weak.  And 
yet  she  spoke  considerably  plainer  than  ever  I  heard  her  in  my  life. 
She  called  as  soon  as  I  entered  the  room,  'My  dear  friend,  give  me 
your  hand.  Let  us  rejoice  that  my  time  is  so  near  approaching.  Do 
not  mourn  ;  you  know  it  is  what  we  expected.'  I  was  soon  brought 
to  wish  her  safe  on  the  happy  shore.  She  said,  'This  is  true  friendship. 
But  how  is  it  that  I  do  not  feel  greater  transports  of  love,  now  I  am  so 
near  the  time  of  seeing  my  Lord  face  to  face  ?  Indeed  I  am  ashamed 
to  approach  Him  before  whom  the  angels  veil  their  faces  ! '  She  often 
said,  '  I  take  it  as  a  fresh  token  of  His  love  that  He  sent  you  to  me  at 
this  time.'  Her  pains  were  great ;  but  she  bore  all  with  invincible 
patience  and  resignation,  and  often  said,  '  I  find  it  good  for  me  to  be 
afflicted ;  in  His  time  I  shall  come  out  throughly  purified.'  Afterward 
she  said,  '  I  experience  more  upon  this  bed  of  my  own  nothingness, 
and  the  free  grace  of  God  in  Christ,  than  ever  I  did  in  all  my  life.  The 
best  of  my  performances  would  be  damnable  without  Christ.' 

Several  days  before  her  death  her  love  was  so  great  that  she  cried, 
'  I  am  overcome,  I  am  overcome,  I  am  overcome  ! '  And  when  she 
had  scarce  strength  to  speak  she  praised  God  in  a  wonderful  manner. 
Even  when  she  was  light-headed  her  talk  was  wholly  concerning  the 
things  of  God.  She  called  to  Mr.  Wesley,  as  if  he  had  been  by  her, 
and  said,  '  O  sir,  how  hard  it  is  for  the  rich  to  enter  into  the  kingdom 
of  heaven  !  I  am  saved  ;  but  I  am  but  just  saved.'  When  her  fever 
abated  she  told  me  she  had  dreamed  that  she  was  with  him.  And 
sometimes  I  could  scarce  persuade  her  but  he  had  been  there. 

She  after  asked  if  I  saw  no  more  appearance  of  death  in  her  face 
yet.     When  I  told  her  there  was,  she  begged  I  would  indulge  her  with 


May  1767.) 


Judith  Beresford  207 


a  looking-glass  ;  and,  looking  earnestly  into  it,  she  said  with  transport, 
'  I  never  saw  myself  with  so  much  pleasure  in  my  life.' 

On  Saturday  morning  at  six  she  said,  '  My  Saviour  will  come  to- 
day and  fetch  His  bride.'  Yet  about  eight  she  said,  '  If  you  had  felt 
what  I  have  done  this  morning,  it  would  have  killed  you.  I  had  lost 
sight  of  God.'  (Perhaps  in  the  last  conflict  '  with  principalities  and 
powers.')  From  this  time  she  was  filled  with  joy,  but  spoke  little. 
Her  eyes  were  still  lifted  up  to  heaven,  till  her  soul  was  released, 
with  so  much  ease  that  I  did  not  know  when  she  drew  her  last 
breath. 

So  died  Judith  Beresford,  as  it  were  a  hundred  years  old, 
at  the  age  of  four-and-twenty.  A  little  more  of  her  life  and 
of  her  spirit  may  be  learned  from  one  or  two  of  her  letters. 

How  can  you  love  me,  since  there  is  still  such  a  mixture  of  evil  in 
all  I  say  and  do  ?  But  why  should  I  ask  this  question  ?  The  Lord 
Himself  loves  me  ;  and  in  the  late  dispensation  of  His  providence  He 
has  mercifully  discovered  to  me  some  sins  of  a  refined  nature,  which 
before  I  was  almost  ignorant  of,  and  now  wait  and  pray  to  be  delivered 
from.  And  I  can  joyfully  add,  the  Lord  is  nigh  to  all  that  call  upon 
Him.  He  will  fulfil  my  desire,  though  not  as  I  desired ;  His  way  and 
His  will  are  best.  But  how  long  shall  I  acknowledge  this  without 
implicitly  submitting  to  it  ?  My  own  will  I  am  apt  to  think  good  in 
such  cases,  and  to  grieve  when  it  is  crossed.  So  that  I  easily  discern 
how  needful  it  is  for  me  to  be  tried,  and  made  to  sacrifice  to  the  Lord 
of  that  which  costs  me  something.  I  need  not  say — for  the  above, 
alas  !  will  tell  you — that  I  cannot  answer  all  your  questions  in  the 
affirmative ;  for  did  I  continually  find  God  present  with  me,  and 
always  walk  in  the  light  of  His  countenance,  most  surely  there  could 
be  no  part  dark  in  me.  Yet  this  I  can  say,  that  I  see  His  hand 
stretched  out  to  save  and  to  deliver ;  and  my  trust  is  that  before  I  go 
hence  I  shall  behold  all  His  salvation  ;  and  if  it  can  serve  any  good 
purpose,  He  will  open  my  lips  to  declare  His  praise,  and  let  a  poor 
creature  glorify  Him  in  her  death.  For  this  I  pray,  and  rejoice  in 
hope,  knowing  the  God  whom  I  serve  is  able  to  fulfil  in  me  all  the 
good  pleasure  of  His  will,  and  the  work  of  faith  with  power. 

As  to  the  shadows  of  this  world,  I  think  I  may  truly  say  they  are 
as  nothing  to  me.  The  evil  (for  certainly  it  must  be  some)  that  at 
times  interposes  between  God  and  my  soul  is,  I  believe,  of  a  more 
spiritual  nature.  The  stirrings  of  pride  I  sometimes  feel,  and,  I  trust, 
shall  bewail  as  long  as  one  spark  remains. 

My  dear  friend,  adieu  !     I  trust  we  shall  have  a  happy  meeting  at 


208  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [May  1757. 

last.      In  the  meantime,  I  am  persuaded  a  few  lines  from  you  would 
add  greatly  to  my  peace  and  comfort.     I  am 

Your  very  loving,  and  (I  hope)  obedient  child, 

J.  B. 

September  7,   1756. 

In  answer  to  a  letter  wherein  I  desired  some  account  of  her 
experience  she  wrote  as  follows  : 

How  does  it  add  to  the  glory  of  the  Almighty  Saviour  that,  from 
my  very  infancy,  this  rebel  heart  has  felt  the  drawings  of  His  love  ! 
Therefore  since  you  desire  to  know  how  I  was  first  convinced  that  I 
was  a  poor  guilty  sinner,  I  must  begin  with  saying  that  goodness  and 
mercy  have  followed  me  all  my  days.  But  I  know  not  how  to  proceed ; 
the  workings  of  sin  and  grace  that  I  have  felt  are  beyond  description. 
Yet  out  of  the  mouth  of  babes  and  sucklings  the  Lord  can  perfect 
praise. 

My  childhood  was  spent  in  much  simplicity  and  peace.  The  Lord 
drew  me  to  Himself  with  the  cords  of  love,  and  I  found  great  joy  in 
pouring  out  my  soul  before  Him.  Original  sin  I  was  quite  ignorant  of; 
but  actual  sins  I  felt  and  bewailed  ;  and  after  some  time  spent  in 
weeping  for  them,  I  felt  peace,  and  renewed  my  resolutions.  But  they 
could  not  last  long ;  for  pride,  envy,  and  all  manner  of  evil  now  sprung 
up  in  my  heart.  Yet  at  times  I  had  strong  convictions,  and  often 
resolved  to  be  very  serious  when  I  was  older. 

So  I  went  on  from  eight  or  ten  years  old  till  seventeen  ;  then  I  was 
indeed  as  bad  as  bad  could  be,  desired  nothing  but  to  be  admired, 
and  was  filled  with  all  that  foolish  vanity  which  poor  young  women  are 
most  prone  to.  Christmas  1750,  I  was  advised  to  partake  of  the 
Lord's  Supper.  I  knew  it  was  right,  but  was  conscious  of  my  ignor- 
ance and  unfitness  for  it.  However,  I  endeavoured  to  prepare  myself, 
and  was  pretty  well  satisfied,  after  I  had  made  a  formal  confession  of 
my  sins,  and  shed  some  tears  for  them. 

About  this  time  there  was  a  great  talk  of  Methodism,  and  a  cousin 
of  mine  was  brought  to  seek  the  Lord.  I  went  to  visit  her  in 
January  1751,  and  told  her,  before  I  came  away,  I  knew  I  was  not 
what  I  ought  to  be,  and  should  be  glad  to  be  instructed.  From  this 
time  we  carried  on  a  correspondence,  and  by  degrees  light  broke  in 
upon  my  heart.  But,  alas  !  though  I  well  knew  that  in  me  was  no  good 
thing,  and  seemed  to  disclaim  my  own  righteousness,  yet  the  idol 
lurked  within,  and  I  really  trusted  in  my  own  prayers  and  other  duties. 
In  this  manner  I  went  on  that  whole  year,  toward  the  end  of  which  my 
corruptions  were  more  violent.  Sin  took  occasion  by  the  command- 
ment, and  I  was  often  ready  to  be  carried  away  by  the  torrent. 


May  1757.]  Judith  Beresford  209 


February  1752,  it  pleased  God  to  take  my  dear  friend.  This 
appeared  to  me  a  heavy  judgement ;  yet  I  afterwards  saw  how  it  was 
tempered  with  mercy,  as  it  taught  me  to  trust  in  none  but  the  ever- 
lasting arm.  Her  death  happily  proved  the  occasion  of  her  elder 
sister's  conversion.  The  blessing  of  a  Christian  friend  was  restored  to 
me,  and  we  received  each  other  as  from  the  Lord. 

In  1753  and  1754  I  had  great  outward  afflictions,  and  at  times  strong 
inward  conflicts  ;  though,  blessed  be  God,  I  generally  found  comfort  in 
pouring  out  my  complaints  before  Him.  But  towards  the  end  of  1754 
I  began  to  feel  my  hope  decline ;  and  for  several  nights  in  secret 
prayer  I  was  in  strong  agony  of  spirit.  The  Lord  then,  while  I  was 
upon  my  knees,  stripped  off  all  my  fig-leaves.  At  the  same  time  He 
showed  me  the  all-sufficiency  of  Jesus  Christ  to  save  sinners,  to  save 
me,  the  chief ;  and  I  was  enabled  to  cry  out,  '  My  Lord  and  my  God  ! 
I  have  redemption  in  Thy  blood.'  From  this  happy  time  I  went  on 
my  way  rejoicing,  though  I  was  at  times  grievously  assaulted,  both  by 
the  stirrings  of  my  old  corruptions,  and  temptations  from  the  devil, 
blasphemous  thoughts  in  particular.  I  always  experienced  something 
of  this  before  the  sacrament ;  but  the  Lord  made  a  way  for  me  to  escape. 
In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1 755  we  had  preaching  near  Ashbourne. 
This  I  had  wished  for  long  ;  and  now  I  was  honoured  with  suffering  a 
little  for  the  name  of  Christ.  At  first  I  was  rather  ashamed,  but  the 
Lord  strengthened  me ;  and  so  great  a  blessing  did  I  find  by  conversing 
with  these  dear  people  that  I  feared  none  of  those  things  which  I  did 
or  might  suffer.  My  acquaintance  were  now  less  fond  of  my  company, 
and  they  that  looked  upon  me  shaked  their  heads.  This  proved  an 
unspeakable  blessing  ;  for  often  had  I  cause  to  fear  the  love  of  men. 

From  the  time  of  my  becoming  serious,  or  rather  beginning  to  aim 
at  it,  my  health  visibly  declined.  This  at  first  occasioned  me  some 
trouble,  because  all  cried  out  it  was  being  too  religious ;  but  afterwards 
I  saw  great  mercy  in  this  chastisement,  and  the  consequences  of  it ; 
one  of  which  was  that  I  had  a  just  excuse,  even  in  the  judgement  of 
others,  for  refraining  from  many  things  which  in  my  circumstances 
could  not  otherwise  have  been  avoided  without  great  opposition  from 
those  who  were  near  and  dear  unto  me.  Not  that  I  ever  fasted  :  God 
knows  I  have  been  deficient  in  this  as  well  as  every  other  duty  ;  but  I 
had  a  happy  liberty  of  using  some  little  self-denial,  for  which  the  Lord 
be  praised ! 

Oh  how  has  He  led  me  and  carried  me  in  His  bosom  !  Is  it  not 
wonderful  ?  And  yet  I  have  not  told  you  a  tenth  part ;  but  the  time 
fails,  and  my  strength  fails.  Praise  God  with  me,  and  let  us  magnify 
His  name  together. 

October  I,  1756. 


210  John    Wesley  s  Journal  rMayi7B7. 

I  believe  this  was  one  of  the  last  letters  she  wrote.  Shortly 
after  she  was  called  hence. 

So  unaffected,  so  composed  a  mind, 
So  firm  yet  soft,  so  strong  yet  so  refined, 
Heaven,  as  its  purest  gold,  with  torture  tried ; 
The  saint  sustained  it — but  the  woman  died.1 

An  account  of  a  widely  different  nature  I  received  about 
this  time  from  Ireland  : 

Thomas  B.,  about  three  miles  from  Tyrrell's  Pass,  was  at  the  point 
of  death  by  a  violent  rupture.  While  they  were  praying  for  him  in  the 
society  he  was  at  once  restored  to  perfect  health.  He  continued  in 
health  for  several  years,  and  in  the  knowledge  and  love  of  God  ;  but 
no  sooner  did  he  return  to  folly  than  his  disorder  returned,  and  in 
some  months  it  put  an  end  to  his  life.     He  died  as  stupid  as  an  ox. 

Mon.  9. — I  rode  over  the  mountains  to  Huddersfield.  A 
wilder  people  I  never  saw  in  England.  The  men,  women,  and 
children  filled  the  street  as  we  rode  along,  and  appeared  just 
ready  to  devour  us.  They  were,  however,  tolerably  quiet  while 
I  preached  ;  only  a  few  pieces  of  dirt  were  thrown,  and  the  bell- 
man came  in  the  middle  of  the  sermon,  but  was  stopped  by 
a  gentleman  of  the  town.  I  had  almost  done  when  they  began 
to  ring  the  bells  ;  so  that  it  did  us  small  disservice.  How 
intolerable  a  thing  is  the  gospel  of  Christ  to  them  who  are 
resolved  to  serve  the  devil  ! 

Wed.  II. — I  preached,  about  one,  at  Wakefield,  in  a  small 
meadow2  near  the  town.  When  I  began  the  sun  shone  ex- 
ceeding hot,  but  in  a  few  minutes  it  was  covered  with  clouds. 
The  congregation  was  more  quiet  and  serious  than  ever  I  saw 
there  before.  Almost  as  soon  as  I  had  done  speaking  the  sun 
broke  out  again. 

Thur.  12. — I  finished  Dr.  Roger's  Essay  on  the  Learning  of  the 
Ancients}  I  think  he  has  clearly  proved  that  they  had  micro- 
scopes and  telescopes,  and  knew  all  that  is  valuable  in  the 
modern  astronomy  ;  but,  indeed,  he  has  fully  shown  the  whole 
frame  of  this  to  be  quite  uncertain,  if  not  self-contradictory. 


1   From  Pope's  epitaph  on  Mrs.  Corbet.        July  5,  1764,  and  the  '  inconvenient '  sun. 
;  The  meadow  is.  mentioned  again  on  '  See  W.H.S.  vol.  iv.  p.  no. 


May  1757.1 


In   Yorkshire  2 1 1 


The  latter  end  of  the  week  I  spent  at  Bradford.1 

Sun.  15. — At  five  the  house2  contained  the  congregation,  but 
at  eight  they  covered  the  plain  adjoining  to  it.  The  sun  was 
hot  till  the  clouds  interposed  ;  it  was  a  solemn  and  comfortable 
season.  As  soon  as  the  service  of  the  church  was  ended  I 
began  at  the  end  of  the  house  again,  and  exhorted  a  willing 
multitude  to  '  follow  after  charity.'  A  shower  of  rain  and  hail 
fell  as  I  drew  to  a  conclusion,  but  it  did  not  disturb  the 
congregation. 

Soon  after  I  took  horse  for  Birstall.  The  congregation  here 
was  treble  to  that  at  Bradford,  but,  as  they  stood  one  above 
another  on  the  circular  slope  of  the  hill,  my  voice  commanded 
them  all.  Though  I  spoke  longer  than  I  usually  do,  I  found 
no  weariness  or  weakness.  Shall  not  '  they  that  trust  in  the 
Lord  renew  their  strength  '  ?  Yea,  as  long  as  the  sun  and 
moon  endureth. 

On  Monday  and  Tuesday  I  preached  in  the  neighbouring 
towns.3 

Wed.  18. —  I  rode  in  the  afternoon,  from  Halifax,  over  the 
huge,  but  extremely  pleasant  and  fruitful,  mountains  to  Hepton- 
stall.  A  large  congregation  was  waiting  for  us,  not  only  on  the 
ground,  but  on  the  side  and  tops  of  the  neighbouring  houses. 
But  no  scoffer  or  trifler  was  seen  among  them.  It  rained  in  the 
adjoining  valley  all  or  most  of  the  time  that  I  was  preaching, 
but  it  was  fair  with  us  on  the  top  of  the  mountain.  What  an 
emblem  of  God's  taking  up  His  people  into  a  place  of  safety 
while  the  storm  falls  on  all  below  ! 

Here  I  was  informed  of  the  earthquake  the  day  before.  On 
Tuesday,  May  17,  many  persons  in  several  parts,  within  five 
or  six  miles,  heard  a  strange  noise  under  the  ground,  which 
some  compared  to  thunder,  others  to  the  rumbling  of  carts. 
Quickly  after  they  felt  the  earth  rock  under  them  and  wave  to 
and  fro.     Many  who  were  within  doors  heard  their  pewter  and 


1  See  Stamp's  Methodism  in  Bradford,  s  During  May  he  preached  at  Cleck- 
pp.  36-8.  heaton,  Leeds,    Redhill,    Wigton,    Wy- 

2  An  old  cock-pit  near  the  junction  of  combe,  Warton,  and  Wednesbury.  From 
Bond  Street  with  Aldermanbury,  taken  'Bristol'  (see  Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  196 — 
by  the  Society  in  1756.  See  Dickons's  this  should  probably  read  '  Birstall')  he 
Kirkgate   Chapel,  pp.  30-32,  with  illus-  wrote  to  Miss  Furly  (May  18). 

tration  of  the  building. 


2 1 2  John   Wesley  s  Journal.  [May  1757. 


glass  clatter  ;  many  in  the  fields  felt  the  ground  shake  under 
their  feet ;  and  all  agreed  as  to  the  time,  though  they  knew 
nothing  of  each  other's  account. 

Thur.  19. — I  preached  at  Ewood  about  seven,  not  intending 
to  preach  again  till  the  evening ;  but  Mr.  Grimshavv  begged 
I  would  give  them  one  sermon  at  Gaulksholme,  after  which 
we  climbed  up  the  enormous  mountain,  I  think  equal  to  any  I 
saw  in  Germany,  on  the  brow  of  which  we  were  saluted  by 
a  severe  shower,  which  a  high  wind  drove  full  in  our  faces 
almost  till  we  came  to  Haslingden.1  Here  I  learned  that  the 
earthquake  observed  near  Heptonstall  had  been  sensibly  felt 
by  very  many  persons  from  Bingley,  three  miles  eastward  of 
Keighley,  to  the  neighbourhood  of  Preston.  It  was  everywhere 
preceded  by  a  hoarse  rumbling  about  three  o'clock,  so  that  in 
a  few  minutes  it  had  run  from  east  to  west,  between  fifty  and 
sixty  miles. 

Fri.  20. — I  preached  near  Padiham  at  eight  to  a  large,  wild 
congregation  2 ;  about  noon  at  Roughlee,  where  those  who  stood 
firm  in  the  storm  had  melted  away  in  the  calm.  At  Keighley  I 
had  neither  voice  nor  strength  left,  but  while  I  was  preaching 
my  strength  returned. 

Sat.  21. — I  had  a  little  conference  with  our  preachers.  In 
the  afternoon  I  preached  at  Bingley.  I  have  not  lately  seen  so 
genteel  a  congregation,  yet  the  word  of  God  fell  heavy  upon 
them. 

Sun.  22. — After  preaching  at  five,  I  took  horse  for  Haworth. 
A  December  storm  met  us  upon  the  mountain,  but  this  did  not 
hinder  such  a  congregation  as  the  church  could  not  contain.  I 
suppose  we  had  near  a  thousand  communicants,  and  scarce  a 
trifler  among  them.     In  the  afternoon,  the  church  not  containing 


1  Near   Todmorden,   where,  in    1744,  For  Gaulksholme  see  also  below,  p.  332. 
William     Darney     had     preached     and  '-'  One    of    his    '  wild  '    hearers    was 

formed  a  society,  as  soon  after  he  did  at  Robert  Worsick,  whose  grandmother  ran 

Heap  Barn  and  Miller  Barn  (B.  Moore,  after   Wesley   brandishing    an   axe    and 

Burnley  Methodism).    One  of  the  earliest  threatening  to  kill  him.     A  year  later  a 

converts  was  Mrs.  Sarah  Fielden,  mother  chapel  was  built,  the  trustees  of  which 

of  Rev.  Joshua  Fielden,  who  wrote  her  were  William  Grimshaw  and  two  weavers, 

memoir   (Meth.   Mag.     1815,    p.    443)-  James  Hunter  and  James   Moor.      See 

T.    E.    Brigden    (IV.H.S.    vol.    iii.    p.  Tyerman's  Life  of  Wesley,  vol.  ii.  p.  275  ; 

199)   quotes   details    from   John    Stott's  B.  Moore's  Burnley  Methodism,  p.  20  ;  and 

Notices    of   Methodism    in    Haslingden.  Meth.  Ree.  Feb.  14,  1907. 


1.  THE    PARISH    CHURCH,    HAWORTH,    IN    GRIMSHAW  S    TIME 

2.  THE    OLD    PARSONAGE,    HAWORTH. 
5.     WILLIAM    GRIMSHAW. 

4.    THE     PULPIT    NEAR    THE    WINDOW    OF    HAWORTH    CHURCH. 

The  above  are  from   photograph*  by   Mr.  J.    W.   Laycock. 


2*3 


May  1757.1 


In  Cumberland  215 


more  than  a  third  of  the  people,  I  was  constrained  to  be  in  the 
churchyard.  The  rain  began  as  soon  as  I  began  to  speak,  but 
they  regarded  it  not,  for  God  sent  into  their  hearts — 

The  former  and  the  latter  rain  ; 
The  love  of  God,  and  love  of  man.1 

Man.  2$. — I  took  horse  at  four.  It  rained  till  noon  without 
any  intermission,  and  we  had  heavy  showers  in  the  afternoon  ; 
however,  we  reached  Ambleside  in  the  evening. 

Tues.  24. — We  rode  by  Keswick  2  to  Whitehaven.  Within  a 
few  miles  of  the  town  I  was  so  tired  that  I  could  scarce  either 
ride  or  walk,  but  all  weariness  was  gone  before  I  had  preached 
a  quarter  of  an  hour. 

Wed.  25. — I  was  surprised  to  see  not  only  hedges  and 
shrubs  without  a  green  leaf  upon  them,  but  abundance  of 
trees  likewise  naked  as  in  the  depth  of  winter.  Upon  inquiring, 
I  found  that,  some  time  before,  a  violent  wind  had  gone  through 
all  these  parts,  which  not  only  threw  down  chimneys,  walls,  and 
barns,  and  tore  up  trees  by  the  roots,  but  scorched  every  green 
thing  it  touched  as  with  fire,  so  that  all  the  leaves  immediately 
fell  off,  and  not  only  bushes  and  fruit-trees,  but  elms,  oaks,  and 
firs  withered  away  to  the  very  roots. 

Fri.  27. — I  preached  at  Branthwaite  about  noon.  Many  of 
the  congregation  came  from  far.  The  rain  was  suspended  from 
ten  till  evening,  so  that  they  had  opportunity  both  of  coming 
and  returning.  This  also  was  an  answer  to  prayer ;  and  is  any 
such  too  little  to  be  remembered  ? 3 

Sun.  29  (being  Whit  Sunday). — After  preaching  at  eight  and 
at  two,  I  hastened  to  Cockermouth.  I  began  without  delay, 
and  cried  to  a  listening  multitude,  '  If  any  man  thirst,  let  him 
come  unto  Me  and  drink.'  The  word  had  free  course.  Even 
the  gentry  seemed  desirous  to  drink  of  the  '  living  water.' 

Mon.  30. — I  rode  to  Wigton,4  a  neat,  well-built  town  on  the 
edge  of  Cumberland.     I  preached  in  the  market-place  at  twelve. 


1  From  Charles  Wesley's   Version   of  wrote  a  letter  to  Blackwell — one  of  his 

Ps.  exxxiii.  most  comforting  letters  (  Works,  vol.  xii. 

-  He  breakfasted  at  Keswick  (Works,  p.  185). 
vol.  xii.  p.  185).  '  See  article  in  Meth.   Rec.  Nov.    12, 

'  On  May  28,  from  Whitehaven,   he  1903,  for  Methodism  in  Wigton. 


2 1 6  John   Wesley  s  Journal  rjune  1757. 

The  congregation  was  large  and  heavily  attentive.  Between 
four  and  five  we  crossed  Solway  Frith,  and  before  seven  reached 
an  ill-looking  house  called  the  Brow,  which  we  came  to  by 
mistake,  having  passed  the  house  we  were  directed  to.  I  believe 
God  directed  us  better  than  man.  Two  young  women,  we 
found,  kept  the  house,  who  had  lost  both  their  parents,  their 
mother  very  lately.  I  had  great  liberty  in  praying  with  them 
and  for  them.  Who  knows  but  God  will  fasten  something  upon 
them  which  they  will  not  easily  shake  off? 

Tues.  31. — I  breakfasted  at  Dumfries,  and  spent  an  hour 
with  a  poor  backslider  of  London,  who  had  been  for  some  years 
settled  there.  We  then  rode  through  an  uncommonly  pleasant 
country  (so  widely  distant  is  common  report  from  truth)  to 
Thornhill,  two  or  three  miles  from  the  Duke  of  Queensberry's 
seat — an  ancient  and  noble  pile  of  building,  delightfully  situated 
on  the  side  of  a  pleasant  and  fruitful  hill.  But  it  gives  no 
pleasure  to  its  owner,  for  he  does  not  even  behold  it  with  his 
eyes.  Surely  this  is  a  sore  evil  under  the  sun  :  a  man  has  all 
things  and  enjoys  nothing. 

We  rode  afterward  partly  over  and  partly  between  some  of 
the  finest  mountains,  I  believe,  in  Europe — higher  than  most, 
if  not  than  any,  in  England,  and  clothed  with  grass  to  the  very 
top.  Soon  after  four  we  came  to  Leadhills,  a  little  town  at  the 
foot  of  the  mountains,  wholly  inhabited  by  miners. 

JUNE  i,  Wed. — We  rode  on  to  Glasgow,  a  mile  short  of 
which  we  met  Mr.  Gillies  x  riding  out  to  meet  us. 

In  the  evening  the  tent  (so  they  called  a  covered  pulpit)  was 
placed  in  the  yard  of  the  poorhouse,  a  very  large  and  commodious 
place.  Fronting  the  pulpit  was  the  infirmary,  with  most  of  the 
patients  at  or  near  the  windows.  Adjoining  to  this  was  the 
hospital  for  lunatics  ;  several  of  them  gave  deep  attention.  And 
cannot  God  give  them  also  the  spirit  of  a  sound  mind  ?  After 
sermon  they  brought  four  children  to  baptize.  I  was  at  the 
kirk  in  the  morning  while  the  minister  baptized  several  imme- 
diately after  sermon,  so  I  was  not  at  a  loss  as  to  their  manner  of 
baptizing.     I  believe  this  removed  much  prejudice. 

frn\    3, — At    seven    the    congregation    was    increased,   and 


Hev.  Dr.  Gillies  ;  see  above,  p.  62. 


June  1757.' 


A  Scotch  Tour  217 


earnest  attention  sat  on  every  face.  In  the  afternoon  we  walked 
to  the  College  and  saw  the  new  library,  with  the  collection  of 
pictures.  Many  of  them  are  by  Raphael,  Rubens,  Van  Dyck, 
and  other  eminent  hands  ;  but  they  have  not  room  to  place  them 
to  advantage,  their  whole  building  being  very  small. 

Sat.  4. — I  walked  through  all  parts  of  the  old  cathedral,  a 
very  large  and  once  beautiful  structure — I  think  more  lofty  than 
that  at  Canterbury,  and  nearly  the  same  length  and  breadth. 
We  then  went  up  the  main  steeple,  which  gave  us  a  fine 
prospect  both  of  the  city  and  the  adjacent  country.  A  more 
fruitful  and  better  cultivated  plain  is  scarce  to  be  seen  in 
England.  Indeed,  nothing  is  wanting  but  more  trade  (which 
would  naturally  bring  more  people)  to  make  a  great  part  of 
Scotland  no  way  inferior  to  the  best  counties  in  England. 

I  was  much  pleased  with  the  seriousness  of  the  people  in  the 
evening,  but  still  I  prefer  the  English  congregation.  I  cannot 
be  reconciled  to  men  sitting  at  prayer  or  covering  their  heads 
while  they  are  singing  praise  to  God. 

Sun.  5. — At  seven  the  congregation  was  just  as  large  as  my 
voice  could  reach,  and  I  did  not  spare  them  at  all.  So,  if  any 
will  deceive  himself,  I  am  clear  of  his  blood.  In  the  afternoon  it 
was  judged  two  thousand  at  least  went  away  not  being  able  to 
hear,  but  several  thousands  heard  very  distinctly,  the  evening 
being  calm  and  still.  After  preaching  I  met  as  many  as  desired 
it  of  the  members  of  the  praying  societies.  I  earnestly  advised 
them  to  meet  Mr.  Gillies  every  week,  and  at  their  other  meetings 
not  to  talk  loosely  and  in  general  (as  their  manner  had  been)  on 
some  head  of  religion,  but  to  examine  each  other's  hearts  and 
lives. 

Mon.  6.— We  took  horse  early,  and  in  three  hours  reached 
the  Kirk  o'  Shots,  where  the  landlord  seemed  to  be  unusually 
affected  by  a  few  minutes'  conversation,  as  did  also  the  woman 
of  the  house  where  we  dined.  We  came  to  Musselburgh  at  five. 
I  went  to  an  inn,  and  sent  for  Mr.  Bailiff  Lindsey,  whom  I  had 
seen  several  years  ago.  He  came  immediately,  and  desired  me 
to  make  his  house  my  home.  At  seven  I  preached  in  the 
Poorhouse  to  a  large  and  deeply  attentive  congregation ;  but,  the 
number  of  people  making  the  room  extremely  hot,  I  preached 
in   the  morning  before  the  door.     Speaking  afterwards  to  the 


218  John   Wesley  s  Journal  {June  1757. 

members  of  the  society,  I  was  agreeably  surprised  to  find  more 
than  two-thirds  knew  in  whom  they  had  believed.  And  the 
tree  was  known  by  its  fruits.  The  national  shyness  and 
stubbornness  were  gone,  and  they  were  as  open  and  teachable 
as  little  children.  At  seven  five  or  six  and  forty  of  the  fifty 
Dragoons,  and  multitudes  of  the  town's-people,  attended.  Is 
the  time  come  that  even  these  wise  Scots  shall  become  fools  for 
Christ's  sake  ? 

Wed.  8. — I  rode  to  Dunbar.1  Here  also  I  found  a  little 
society,  most  of  them  rejoicing  in  God  their  Saviour.  At 
eleven  I  went  out  into  the  main  street,  and  began  speaking 
to  a  congregation  of  two  men  and  two  women.  These  were 
soon  joined  by  above  twenty  little  children,  and  not  long  after 
by  a  large  number  of  young  and  old.  On  a  sudden  the  sun 
broke  out  and  shone  full  in  my  face,  but  in  a  few  moments  I  felt 
it  not.  In  the  afternoon  I  rode  to  Berwick-upon-Tweed.  They 
did  not  expect  me  till  the  next  day.  However,  a  congregation 
quickly  assembled,  and  one  as  large,  if  not  larger,  at  five  in  the 
morning. 

Thur.  9. — To-day  Douglas?  the  play  which  has  made  so 
much  noise,  was  put  into  my  hands.  I  was  astonished  to  find 
it  is  one  of  the  finest  tragedies  I  ever  read.  What  pity  that  a 
few  lines  were  not  left  out,  and  that  it  was  ever  acted  at 
Edinburgh  ! 

Fri.  10. — I  found  myself  much  out  of  order,  till  the  flux 
stopped  at  once  without  any  medicine  ;  but  being  still  weak, 
and  the  sun  shining  extremely  hot,  I  was  afraid  I  should  not  be 
able  to  go  round  by  Kelso.  Vain  fear  !  God  took  care  for  this 
also.  The  wind,  which  had  been  full  east  for  several  days, 
turned  this  morning  full  west,  and  blew  just  in  our  face ; 
and  about  ten  the  clouds  rose,  and  kept  us  cool  till  we  came 
to  Kelso. 


1  See  Rankin's  autobiography  in  John  Home,  a  minister  of  the  Kirk.  It 
E.M.P.  (vol.  v.)  for  account  of  early  was  first  performed  Dec.  14,  I7SS-  Tne 
Methodism  in  Dunbar,  especially  pp.  author  and  certain  ministers  who  at- 
140-2,  156-9.  Andrew  Affleck  {Meth.  tended  the  performance  were  cited  by 
Mag.  1813,  p.  73)  had  been  awakened  the  Kirk.  Home  resigned  June  7,  1757. 
before  the  Methodist  preachers  visited  About  the  objectionable  lines  pamphlets 
Dunbar  by  attending  the  prayer- meet-  were  written.  See  W.H.S.  vol.  iv.  pp. 
ings  of  some  pious  English  Dragoons.  240,  241  ;  also  Dublin  Univ.  Mag.  1868, 

2  The   play  was  written  by  the  Rev.  p.  659,  quoted  in-  W.H.S.  above. 


June  1757.]  In  Northumberland  219 

At  six  William  Coward  and  I  went  to  the  market-house.1  We 
stayed  some  time,  and  neither  man,  woman,  nor  child  came  near 
us.  At  length  I  began  singing  a  Scotch  psalm,  and  fifteen  or 
twenty  people  came  within  hearing,  but  with  great  circum- 
spection, keeping  their  distance  as  though  they  knew  not  what 
might  follow.  But  while  I  prayed  their  number  increased,  so 
that  in  a  few  minutes  there  was  a  pretty  large  congregation. 
I  suppose  the  chief  men  of  the  town  were  there,  and  I  spared 
neither  rich  nor  poor.  I  almost  wondered  at  myself,  it  not 
being  usual  with  me  to  use  so  keen  and  cutting  expressions, 
and  I  believe  many  felt  that,  for  all  their  form,  they  were  but 
heathens  still. 

Sat.  11.— Near  as  many  were.present  at  five,  to  whom  I  spoke 
full  as  plain  as  before.  Many  looked  as  if  they  would  look  us 
through  ;  but  the  shyness  peculiar  to  this  nation  prevented  their 
saying  anything  to  me,  good  or  bad,  while  I  walked  through 
them  to  our  inn. 

About  noon  I  preached  at  Wooler,  a  pretty  large  town 
eighteen  miles  from  Kelso.  I  stood  on  one  side  of  the  main 
street,  near  the  middle  of  the  town.  And  I  might  stand,  for 
no  creature  came  near  me  till  I  had  sung  part  of  a  psalm. 
Then  a  row  of  children  stood  before  me,  and  in  some  time 
about  a  hundred  men  and  women.  I  spoke  full  as  plain 
as  I  did  at  Kelso  ;  and  Pharisees  themselves  are  not  out  of 
God's  reach. 

In  the  afternoon  we  came  to  Alnwick,  and  at  six  I  preached 
in  the  court-house  to  a  congregation  of  another  spirit.2 

Sun.  12. — At  seven  they  were  gathered  from  all  parts,  and  I 
was  greatly  refreshed  among  them.  At  five,  the  court-house 
being  too  small,  I  was  obliged  to  go  out  into  the  market-place. 
Oh  what  a  difference  is  there  between  these  living  stones  and 
the  dead,  unfeeling  multitudes  in  Scotland  ! 

Mon.  13. — I  proclaimed  the  love  of  Christ  to  sinners  in  the 
market-place  at  Morpeth.  Thence  we  rode  to  Plessey.  The 
society  of  colliers  here  may  be  a  pattern  to  all  the  societies  in 
England.  No  person  ever  misses  his  band  or  class,  they  have 
no  jar  of  any  kind  among  them,  but  with  one  heart  and  one 

1  Tyerman,  Life   of  Wesley,   vol.     ii.  2  During  this  journey  he  preached  at 

P-  276.  Berwick. 


2  20  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [June  1757. 

mind  '  provoke  one  another  to  love  and  to  good  works.'  After 
preaching  I  met  the  society  in  a  room  as  warm  as  any  in 
Georgia.  This,  with  the  scorching  heat  of  the  sun  when  we 
rode  on,  quite  exhausted  my  strength  ;  but  after  we  came  to 
Newcastle  I  soon  recovered,  and  preached  with  as  much  ease  as 
in  the  morning.1 

TJmr.  16. — In  the  evening  I  preached  at  Sunderland.  I 
then  met  the  society,  and  told  them  plain  none  could  stay  with 
us  unless  he  would  part  with  all  sin — particularly,  robbing  the 
King,  selling  or  buying  run  goods,  which  I  could  no  more  suffer 
than  robbing  on  the  highway.  This  I  enforced  on  every  member 
the  next  day.  A  few  would  not  promise  to  refrain,  so  these  I 
was  forced  to  cut  off.  About  two  hundred  and  fifty  were  of  a 
better  mind. 

Sat.  18. — The  desk  was  placed  in  the  evening  just  opposite 
the  sun,  which,  when  I  began,  was  covered  with  a  cloud  ;  but  it 
broke  out  in  a  few  minutes,  and  shone  full  in  my  face  for 
three-quarters  of  an  hour.  But  it  was  no  inconvenience  at  all, 
nor  were  my  eyes  any  more  dazzled  than  if  it  had  been  under 
the  earth. 

Sun.  19. —  I  preached  at  eight  to  the  usual  congregation,  and 
hastened  to  Shields,2  lest  I  should  be  too  late  for  the  church. 
Between  twelve  and  one  I  preached  in  a  kind  of  square.  But 
here  we  had  a  new  kind  of  inconvenience — every  four  or  five 
minutes  a  strong  wind  covered  us  over  with  a  shower  of  dust, 
so  that  it  was  not  easy  to  look  up  or  to  keep  one's  eyes  open. 
But  not  long  after  the  rain  began,  which  constrained  me  to 
preach  within,  at  Newcastle.  I  took  the  opportunity  of  making 
a  collection  for  the  poor,  many  of  whom  can  very  hardly  support 
life  in  the  present  scarcity. 

Wed.  22. — In  the  evening  and  the  following  morning  I 
preached  at  Chester-le-Street.3  Observing  some  very  fine  but 
not  very  modest  pictures  in  the  parlour  where  we  supped,  I 


1  On  June  14,  from  Newcastle,  he  South  Shields  see  an  anecdote  mainly 
wrote  to  Miss  Furly  (Works,  vol.  xii.  connected  with  Richard  Sellars,  who 
p.  197),  and  'to  Mrs.  Crosby  (vol.  xii.  turned  a  cockpit  into  the  first  chapel  for 
P-  353)-  O"  tne  ^th  he  again  wrote  to  Shields.  (Meth.  Mag.  1813,  pp.  440, 
Miss  Furly  (vol.  xii.  p.  198).  44I-)    James  Everett  is  the  authority. 

2  For  the  beginning  of  Methodism  in  3  See  above,  vol.  iii.  p.  170. 


July  1767.]  Tyneside  221 

desired  my  companion,  when  the  company  was  gone,  to 
put  them  where  they  could  do  no  hurt.  He  piled  them  on  a 
heap  in  a  corner  of  the  room,  and  they  have  not  appeared  since. 

Thur.  23. —  I  preached  at  South  Biddick  about  noon  on  '  I 
will  heal  thy  backsliding.'  God  was  with  us  at  Sunderland  in 
the  evening  in  an  uncommon  manner,  and  the  next  day  I  left 
the  people  there  more  in  earnest  than  they  have  been  for 
some  years. 

Sat.  25. — We  walked  to  Swalwell  about  noon.  The  sun  was 
scorching  hot,  and  there  was  no  wind  or  cloud ;  but  it  did  us  no 
hurt.  The  congregation  was  such  as  I  never  saw  there  before, 
and  I  believe  God  blessed  His  word  to  them  that  were  nigh,  and 
them  that  had  been  far  from  Him. 

Sun.  26.  —  I  preached  at  Gateshead  at  eight,  at  Sheephill 
about  noon,  and  at  five  in  the  evening  at  Newcastle,  near  Pandon 
Gate.  The  rain  only  threatened  till  I  had  done,  but  soon  after 
poured  down.  How  well  does  God  time  great  and  small  events 
for  the  furtherance  of  His  kingdom  ! 

Mon.  27. — I  preached  at  Horsley,  and  found  some  life  even 
there.  Thence  we  rode  across  the  Tyne  to  Prudhoe,  a  little 
town  on  the  top  of  a  high  hill.  I  preached  at  the  side  of 
Mr.  H.'s  house,  and  I  suppose  all  the  town  who  could  get  out 
were  present,  and  most  of  them  at  five  in  the  morning.  At  both 
times  it  pleased  God  to  make  bare  His  arm,  not  only  to  wound 
but  to  heal. 

Tues.  28. — I  returned  to  Newcastle  hoarse  and  weak  ;  but 
who  can  be  spent  in  a  better  cause  ? 

Thur.  30. — I  read  Mr.  Baxter's  account  of  his  own  Life  and 
Times.  It  seems  to  be  the  most  impartial  account  of  those 
times  which  has  yet  ever  appeared.  And  none  that  I  have 
seen  so  accurately  points  out  the  real  springs  of  those  public 
calamities.1 

JULY  3,  Sun. — The  high  wind  obliged  me  to  stand  on  the 
western  side  of  Gateshead.  By  this  means  the  sun  was  just  in 
my  face.  But  it  was  not  long  before  the  clouds  covered  it.  As  I 
began  speaking  in  the  afternoon,  near  Pandon  Gate,  the  rain 
began,  scattered  the  careless  hearers,  and  ceased.     An  earnest, 


'  July  1  (or,  more  probably,  July  n),  from  York,  letter  to  Miss  Furly  (Works, 
vol.  xii.  p.  199). 


222  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [Juiyrw. 

attentive  multitude  remained,  to  whom  I  explained  part  of  the 
Second  Lesson  for  the  day,  concerning  the  '  joy  '  which  is  '  in 
heaven  over  one  sinner  that  repenteth.' 

Mon.  4. — I  took  my  leave  of  Newcastle,  and  about  noon 
preached  at  Durham  in  a  pleasant  meadow,  near  the  river's 
side.  The  congregation  was  large,  and  wild  enough,  yet  in  a 
short  time  they  were  deeply  attentive.  Only  three  or  four 
gentlemen  put  me  in  mind  of  the  honest  man  at  London,  who 
was  so  gay  and  unconcerned  while  Dr.  Sherlock  was  preaching 
concerning  the  Day  of  Judgement.  One  asked,  'Do  you  not 
hear  what  the  doctor  says  ? '  He  answered,  '  Yes  ;  but  I  am 
not  of  this  parish  ! '  Toward  the  close  I  was  constrained  to 
mention  the  gross  ignorance  I  had  observed  in  the  rich  and 
genteel  people  throughout  the  nation.  On  this  they  drew 
near,  and  showed  as  serious  an  attention  as  if  they  had  been 
poor  colliers. 

We  took  horse  at  two.  The  clouds  and  wind  in  our  face  kept 
us  cool  till  we  came  to  Hartlepool.  Mr.  Romaine  x  has  been  an 
instrument  of  awakening  several  here  ;  but  for  want  of  help  they 
soon  slept  again.  I  preached  in  the  main  street  to  near  all  the 
town,  and  they  behaved  with  seriousness. 

Tues.  5. — At  seven  in  the  evening  I  preached  in  the  main 
street  at  Stockton.  None  but  two  or  three  gentlemen  seemed 
unconcerned.  I  went  thence  to  meet  the  society  ;  but  many 
others  begged  to  stay  with  them,  and  so  earnestly  that  I  could 
not  refuse.  And  indeed  it  was  a  day  of  God's  power ;  I  scarce 
know  when  we  have  found  the  like. 

Wed.  6. — At  eleven  1  preached  near  the  market-place  in 
Yarm.  Many  gentry  were  there,  and  all  serious.  I  find  in  all 
these  parts  a  solid,  serious  people,  quite  simple  of  heart,  strangers 
to  various  opinions,  and  seeking  only  the  faith  that  worketh  by 
love ;  and  most  of  the  believers  are  waiting  and  longing  for  the 
fullness  of  the  promises. 

One  young  woman,  late  a  Papist,  I  talked  with  at  large, 
who  last  night  took  leave  of  her  priest.  Instead  of  staying  to 
be  sent  for,  she  sent  for  him,  and,  after  asking  him  several 
questions,  frankly  told  him  she  had  now  found  the  true  religion, 

1  Rev.  William  Romaine,  who   was  a  native  of  Hartlepool,  and  whose  father 
died  here  in  this  year  (1757). 


July  1757.)  North-Easl   Yorkshire  223 

and,  by  the  grace  of  God,  would  continue  therein.  She  has 
been  concerned  for  her  soul  from  thirteen  years  of  age.  About 
two  years  ago  she  began  to  hear  our  preachers  :  soon  after  she 
found  the  peace  of  God,  and  has  never  lost  it  since. 

About  seven  I  preached  at  Osmotherley.1 

Tliur.  7. — I  rode  through  one  of  the  pleasantest  parts  of 
England  to  Hawnby.2  Here  the  zealous  landlord  turned  all 
the  Methodists  out  of  their  houses.  This  proved  a  singular 
kindness,  for  they  built  some  little  houses  at  the  end  of  the 
town,  in  which  forty  or  fifty  of  them  live  together.  Hence,  with 
much  ado,  I  found  my  way  to  Robin  Hood's  Bay,  and  preached 
on  the  quay  to  the  greatest  part  of  the  town.  All  (except  one 
or  two,  who  were  very  wise  in  their  own  eyes)  seemed  to  receive 
the  truth  in  love. 

This  day,  between  Helmsley  and  Kirby  Moorside,  we  rode 
over  a  little  river,  which  suddenly  disappears,  and,  after  running 
a  mile  underground,  rises  again  and  pursues  its  course.3 

Sun.  10. — I  preached  at  seven  on  '  Repent  and  believe  the 
gospel.'  At  the  church,  which  stands  on  the  hill,  a  mile  from 
the  town,  we  had  a  sound,  useful  sermon.  Afterwards  I  preached 
at  a  little  village  called  Normanby,  and  about  five  on  the  quay. 
In  the  evening,  talking  with  the  society,  I  saw  more  than  ever 
the  care  of  God  over  them  that  fear  Him.  What  was  it  which 
stopped  their  growing  in  grace  ?  Why,  they  had  a  well-meaning 
preacher  among  them,  who  was  inflaming  them  more  and  more 
against  the  clergy.  Nor  could  he  advise  them  to  attend  the 
public  ordinances,  for  he  never  went  either  to  church  or  sacra- 
ment himself.  This  I  knew  not  ;  but  God  did,  and  by  His  wise 
providence  prevented  the  consequences  which  would  naturally 
have  ensued.  William  Manuel  was  pressed  for  a  soldier,4  so 
the  people  go  to  church  and  sacrament  as  before. 

1  Society   Book  :    '  Laid   out   for  Mr.       Hawnby,    where    a    society    was    early 
John  Wesley,  Wm.   Fugill,    and   Mich.       formed. 

Phenick     [Fenwick]    2/6.'       (Tyerman,  *  See  note  on  '  The  Sinking  River  '  in 

vol.  ii.  p.  277.)  W.H.S.  vol.  v.  p.  129. 

2  The  circumstances  mentioned  make  1  In  the  hands  of  a  local  solicitor  is  the 
it    clear   that   it    was    Hawnby   Wesley  following  official  document : 

visited,    not    Hornby,    the    fact    being 
familiar  to  the  Hawnby  villagers  to  this 


18//1  Dec.  1756. 


I  acknowledge  to  have  received  from  the 
day.     The  scattered  Methodist  members       nands  of  tne  Commissioners  of  the  Land  Tax 
about     Snailesworth     met     in     class     at       for  the  Liberty  of   Whitby  Strand   in    the 
VOL.   IV  14 


224  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [Juiyi757. 

Mon.  ii. — We  set  out  early.  This  and  the  three  next  days 
were  the  hottest  I  ever  knew  in  England.  A  gentleman  who 
formerly  traded  to  Guinea  assured  me  that  the  spirits  in  his 
thermometer  (the  same  he  had  when  abroad)  rose  as  high  as  the)' 
did  within  a  few  degrees  of  the  Line.  About  nine  we  should  have 
been  glad  to  bait ;  but,  there  being  no  inn  to  be  found,  we  lay 
down  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour  under  some  trees,  and  then  rode 
on  to  Slingsby.  The  minister,  an  old  acquaintance  of  my 
father's,  having  desired  to  see  me,  I  called  at  his  house  before 
I  preached  ;  and  I  could  gladly  have  stayed  longer  with  him, 
but  I  knew  the  congregation  waited.  One  poor  drunkard  made 
a  little  disturbance,  but  after  he  was  silenced  all  were  still  and 
steadily  attentive. 

It  continued  intensely  hot ;  but,  having  the  wind  in  our  faces 
(as  we  generally  had,  all  along  from  Newcastle,  and  that  which 
way  soever  we  rode),  we  received  no  hurt  till  we  came  to  York. 
But  the  difficulty  was  how  to  preach  there  in  a  room  which  in 
winter  used  to  be  as  hot  as  an  oven.  I  cut  the  knot  by  preaching 
in  Blake's  Square,  where  (the  mob  not  being  aware  of  us)  I  began 
and  ended  my  discourse  to  a  numerous  congregation  without 
the  least  disturbance. 

Tues.  12. — I  set  a  subscription  on  foot  for  building  a  more 
commodious  room.1  In  the  evening  I  preached  at  Acomb,  to 
a  calm,  solid  congregation.  The  next  evening  I  preached  at 
Poppleton,  where  the  poor  gladly  received  the  gospel.  The 
rich  heard  it,2  and  even  seemed  to  approve.  God  give  them 
to  understand  and  practise  it ! 


North  Riding  of  Yorkshire,  who  are  like-  See      W.H.S.     vol.      vii.     p.      70.       Cf. 

wise  Commissioners  for  putting  in  execution  Atmore.s  Memorial  on  William  Thomp- 

an  Act  instituted  for  the  speedy  and  effectual  ,                      ,         .          _       .  ,             , 

recruiting  of  His  Majesty's  Land  Forces  and  son>     who    was    the    first    President    of 

Marines,  John  Gilbert,   William  Petts,  and  the  Conference   subsequent    to  Wesley's 

James  Plane  alias  Daniel,  who  were  pressed  death. 

by  the  Constables  according  to  the  directions  1  The    ch       ,     in    Peaseholme    Green 

of  the  said  Act,  I  say  received  by  me  the  day  .    .,,            ,.    r                             .     .      T       . 

and  year  above.-IsA.  Antrobus,  Lieut,  in  <stl11   standing  as  cottages,   &c.)     Land 

Major-General  Bolland's  nth  Reg.  of  Foot.  for  this  was  not  secured  until  1759,  when 

24//1  Dec.  1-56.  a^so     'he    chapel    was    opened.      Lyth 

I  acknowledge  to  have  received  this  day  {Early   Methodism    in    York)   gives    an 

from  the  hands  of  the  above  Commissioners  engraving  and  lists  of  first  trustees, 

the  persons  hereinafter  mentioned,  that  is  to  »  See     Lyth's     Methodism     in     York, 

say,  William  Thompson  and  William  Manuel,  ~.  c     m     1     '       ■    :  u  ■ 

-".,,.'..           r  ..        .        '  p.     293.       Two     of     Wesley  s     'rich 

pursuant  to  the    directions    of  the    above-  'J                                           ' 

mentioned  Act.     Witness  my  hand  the  day  hearers  became  trustees   of    Peaseholme 

and  year  above. — Isa.  Antrobus.  Green. 


■<7S5        ~       ~ 

,0.  ?../.<yJ-.' 


.J&A/6.3* 


^  •  A^^/f.^/z,fr  2*~  *■•"  &9*. 


SPECIMEN    PAGE   OF  SERMON   REGISTER, 


PARTLY   IN  JOHN   WESLEY'S   HANDWRITING. 


225 


July  1757.] 


In  Lincolnshire  227 


Thin:  14. — I  resolved  to  preach  in  the  Square  once  more, 
knowing  God  has  the  hearts  of  all  men  in  His  hands.  One 
egg  was  thrown,  and  some  bits  of  dirt ;  but  this  did  not  hinder 
a  large  congregation  from  taking  earnest  heed  to  what  was 
spoken,  of  Christ,  '  the  power  of  God,  and  the  wisdom  of  God.' 

Fri.  15. — At  three  in  the  morning  there  were  all  the  probable 
signs  of  a  violent  hot  day  ;  but  about  four  God  sent  a  cooling 
rain.  It  ceased  about  seven  ;  but  the  clouds  continued,  and 
shaded  us  to  Pocklington.  Yet  it  was  too  hot  to  bear  the 
house  ;  so  I  stood  in  the  main  street  and  cried,  '  If  any  man 
thirst,  let  him  come  unto  Me  and  drink.'  A  large  mob  soon 
gathered  on  the  other  side ;  and,  for  fear  they  should  not  make 
noise  enough,  the  good  churchwardens  hired  men  to  ring  the 
bells.  But  it  was  lost  labour,  for  still  the  bulk  of  the  congregation 
heard,  till  I  quietly  finished  my  discourse. 

Before  seven  I  reached  Epworth,  and  preached  in  the 
market-place  to  a  listening  multitude. 

Sat.  16. — I  rode  on  to  Laceby,  about  thirty  measured  miles.1 
After  so  many  long  journeys  which  I  hardly  felt,  this  short  one 
quite  exhausted  my  strength.  However,  I  quickly  recovered, 
so  as  to  preach  at  three  in  a  meadow  to  a  large  congregation. 
They  all  kneeled  when  I  prayed,  and  showed  such  a  genuine 
simplicity  as  greatly  revived  my  spirit.  At  seven  I  preached 
in  the  new  room  2  which  they  have  just  finished  at  Grimsby. 

Sun.  17. — At  seven  in  the  morning  the  house  just  contained 
the  people.  I  designed  to  preach  abroad  in  the  afternoon,  but 
the  rain  drove  us  into  the  house  again.  As  many  as  could 
crowded  in.  The  rest  stood  without,  though  many,  I  fear,  were 
wet  to  the  skin.3 

Tues.  19. — Before  I  left  Newcastle  I  heard  a  strange  relation, 
which  I  knew  not  what  to  think  of.  I  then  desired  T[homas] 
Lee,  who  was  going  to  the  place,  to  inquire  particularly  con- 


1  Measured    miles,    i.e.   versus   com-  See  above,  vol.  iii.  p.  161,  and  Itiner- 

puted.     Previous  to  1675,  when  the  great  arittm  Anglicu,  or  a  Book  of  Roads,  1675. 

roads      were      measured      by    Ogilby,  2  In  the  yard  of  William  Blow,  erected 

distances   were    computed,   and    though  largely   through    the    exertions    of    Mr. 

always   (sometimes   as   much  as  30  per  Thomas   Capiter   (see    below,    July   22, 

cent.)  less   than   measured  miles,   post-  1772).     (Meth.  Rec.  Dec.  8,  1898.) 

masters   were  for  more  than  a   century  *  He   preached  also   on   the    1 8th   at 

afterwards  paid  by  the  computed  distance.  Grimsby. 


228  John   Wesley's  Journal  rjuiyi767. 

cerning  it.     He  did  so,  and  in  consequence  of  that  inquiry  wrote 
me  the  following  account : 

R J lived  about  twelve  miles  from  Newcastle. 

His  son,  some  time  since,  married  without  his  consent.  At  this  he 
was  so  enraged  that  he  wished  his  right  arm  might  burn  off  if  ever  he 
gave  or  left  him  sixpence. 

However,  in  March  last,  being  taken  ill,  he  made  his  will,  and  left 
him  all  his  estate.  The  same  evening  he  died.  On  Thursday  the  ioth 
his  widow,  laying  her  hand  on  his  back,  found  it  warm.  In  the  evening 
those  who  were  with  him  went  into  the  next  room  to  take  a  little 
refreshment.  As  they  were  eating  they  observed  a  disagreeable  smell,  but 
could  find  nothing  in  the  room  to  cause  it.  Returning  into  the  room 
where  the  corpse  lay,  they  found  it  full  of  smoke.  Removing  the  sheet 
which  covered  the  corpse,  they  saw  (to  their  no  small  amazement)  the 
body  so  burnt  that  the  entrails  were  bare,  and  might  be  seen  through 
the  ribs.  His  right  arm  was  nearly  burnt  off,  his  head  so  burnt  that  the 
brains  appeared,  and  a  smoke  came  out  of  the  crown  of  his  head,  like 
the  steam  of  boiling  water.  When  they  cast  water  upon  his  body  it 
hissed  just  as  if  cast  on  red-hot  iron.  Yet  the  sheet  which  was  upon 
him  was  not  singed  ;  but  that  under  him,  with  the  pillow-bier x  and 
pillow,  and  the  plank  on  which  he  lay,  were  all  burned,  and  looked  as 
black  as  charcoal. 

They  hastened  to  put  what  was  left  of  him  into  the  coffin,  leaving 
some  to  watch  by  it ;  but,  after  it  was  nailed  up,  a  noise  of  burning 
and  crackling  was  heard  therein.  None  was  permitted  to  look  into  it 
till  it  was  carried  to  Abchester  churchyard.  It  was  buried  near  the  steeple. 
As  soon  as  it  was  brought  to  the  grave  the  steeple  was  observed  to 
shake.  The  people  hastened  away ;  and  it  was  well  they  did,  for 
presently  part  of  the  steeple  fell.  So  that,  had  they  stayed  two 
minutes  longer,  they  must  have  been  crushed  in  pieces.  All  these 
circumstances  were  related  to  me  and  my  wife  by  those  who  were 
eye  and  ear  witnesses.2 

I  preached  in  a  ground  adjoining  to  the  house.3  Toward 
the  conclusion  of  my  sermon  the  person  with  whom  I  lodged 
was  much  offended  at  one  who  sunk  down  and  cried  aloud  for 
mercy.  Herself  dropped  down  next,  and  cried  as  loud  as  her  ; 
so  did  several  others  quickly  after.  When  prayer  was  made  for 
them,  one  was  presently  filled  with  peace  and  joy  in  believing. 


i.e.  pillow-case.  3  See  Charles  Dickens's  Preface  to  Bleak  House. 

In  Grimsby. 


July  1757] 


In  Lincolnshire  229 


In  the  morning  I  left  the  rest  refusing  to  be  comforted  till 
Christ  should  be  revealed  in  their  hearts. 

Wed.  20. — I  preached  at  Ferry  in  my  way,  and  in  Epworth 
market-place  about  seven.  The  rain  began  just  as  I  began 
speaking  ;  but  God  heard  the  prayer,  and  it  was  stayed. 

Sat.  23. — I  preached  at  Westwoodside,  where  the  breach  of 
fifteen  years '  is  now  healed,  all  the  wanderers  being  returned  to 
the  fold,  with  him  who  led  them  astray. 

Sun.  24. — As  we  rode  over  Haxey  Car  towards  Misterton 
one  was  relating  a  surprising  thing  that  happened  lately  : 

A  woman  of  Stockwith  told  her  sister  who  lived  with  her,  '  I  do  not 
think  to  go  to  market  to-day,  for  I  dreamed  that  I  was  drowned  in 
riding  across  one  of  the  drains  on  Haxey  Car.'  But  she  was  soon 
laughed  out  of  it,  and  went.  She  rode  over  the  Car  with  many  other 
market-folks,  and,  in  crossing  one  of  the  drains,  where  the  water  was 
scarce  a  yard  deep,  slipped  off  her  horse.  Several  looked  on,  but  none 
once  thought  of  pulling  her  out  till  she  was  past  recovery. 

At  one  I  preached  to  the  largest  congregation  I  have  seen 
since  I  left  Newcastle.  All  behaved  with  deep  seriousness  but 
one  man,  whom  I  afterward  learned  to  be  a  Baptist  preacher. 
Just  as  I  was  taking  horse  he  came  again,  and  laboured  hard  to 
begin  a  dispute  ;  but,  having  neither  time  nor  strength  to  spare, 
I  gave  him  the  ground  and  rode  away. 

The  congregation  at  Epworth  was  full  as  large,  if  not 
larger,  than  that  at  Misterton.  Among  them  was  a  poor  grey- 
headed sinner,  a  mocker  at  all  religion.  But  his  mocking  is 
past.  He  was  in  tears  most  of  the  time,  and  is  now  '  feeling 
after  God.' 

Mon.  25. — I  left  Epworth  with  great  satisfaction,  and  about 
one  preached  at  Clayworth.  I  think  none  was  unmoved  but 
Michael  Fen  wick,  who  fell  fast  asleep  under  an  adjoining  hay- 
rick.2    From  thence  we  rode  to  Rotherham.     When   I  came  in 


'  Harrison  and  R.  Ridley's  Moravian  been  named   in   the   Journal.      On   this 

Quietism  (see  above,  vol.  iii.  p.  19).     He  occasion  Wesley  gratified  his  desire.     See 

preached  on  the  21st  at  Epworth,  and  on  also  Atmore's  Memorial,  pp.  123-5  ;  and, 

the  23rd  at  Haxey.  for  Fenwick  in  his  old  age,  with  £\7.  a 

■  The  vanity  of  Michael  Fenwick  was  year  to  live  on,  most  of  which  he  gave  to 

troubled   because   hitherto   he   had   not  the  poor,  W.H.S.  vol.  v.  pp.  185-6. 


230  John   Wesley  s  Journal  rjuiyi757. 

I  had  no  strength  and  no  voice  left.  However,  in  an  hour  I  was 
able  to  preach  to  the  largest  congregation  that  I  suppose  was 
ever  seen  there. 

Tues.  26. —  I  was  not  able  to  sit  up  above  two  or  three  hours 
together.  However,  I  preached  in  the  morning  and  evening, 
and  spoke  severally  to  the  members  of  the  society. 

Wed.  27. — I  preached  about  noon  at  Barley  Hall,  and  in  the 
evening  at  Sheffield.  After  spending  a  short  time  with  the 
society,  I  lay  down  as  soon  as  possible.  But  I  could  not  sleep 
before  twelve  o'clock  ;  and  not  long  together  after.  Yet  I  felt 
no  faintness  in  the  morning,  but  rose  lively  and  well,  and  had 
my  voice  more  clear  and  strong  in  preaching  than  it  had  been 
for  several  days. 

Thur.  28. — I  received  a  strange  account  from  Edward 
Bennett's  1  eldest  daughter  : 

'On  Tuesday,  the  12th  of  this  month,  I  told  ray  husband  in  the 
morning,  "  I  desire  you  will  not  go  into  the  water  to-day ;  at  least,  not 
into  the  deep  water,  on  the  far  side  of  the  town ;  for  I  dreamed  I  saw 
you  there  out  of  your  depth,  and  only  your  head  came  up  just  above 
the  water."  He  promised  me  he  would  not,  and  went  to  work.'  Soon 
after  four  in  the  afternoon,  being  at  John  Hanson's,  his  partner's  house, 
she  was  on  a  sudden  extremely  sick,  so  that  for  some  minutes  she 
seemed  just  ready  to  expire.  Then  she  was  well  in  a  moment.  Just 
at  that  time  John  Hanson,  who  was  an  excellent  swimmer,  persuaded 
her  husband  to  go  into  the  water  on  the  far  side  of  the  town.  He 
objected,  the  water  was  deep,  and  he  could  not  swim  ;  and,  being  much 
importuned  to  go  in,  stood  some  time  after  he  was  undressed,  and  then, 
kneeling  down,  prayed  with  an  earnest  and  loud  voice.  When  he  rose 
from  his  knees,  John,  who  was  swimming,  called  him  again,  and, 
treading  the  water,  said,  '  See,  it  is  only  breast-high.'  He  stepped  in, 
and  sunk.  A  man  who  was  near,  cutting  fern,  and  had  observed  him 
for  some  time,  ran  to  the  bank,  and  saw  his  head  come  up  just  above 
the  water.  The  second  or  third  time  he  rose,  he  clasped  his  hands, 
and  cried  aloud,  '  Lord  Jesus,  receive  my  spirit.'  Immediately  he  sunk, 
and  rose  no  more. 

One  might  naturally  inquire,  what  became  of  John  Hanson  ? 
As  soon  as  he  saw  his  partner  sink  he  swam  from  him  to  the 
other  side,  put  on  his  clothes,  and  went  straight  home. 


Everett's  Methodism  in  Sheffield,  pp.  34,  43. 


Aug.  1757. 


In  Leicestershire  231 


About  noon  I  preached  at  Woodseats  ;  in  the  evening  at 
Sheffield.1     I  do  indeed  live  by  preaching  ! 

How  quiet  is  this  country  now,  since  the  chief  persecutors 
are  no  more  seen  !  How  many  of  them  have  been  snatched 
away  in  an  hour  when  they  looked  not  for  it !  Some  time 
since  a  woman  of  Thorpe  often  swore  she  would  wash  her 
hands  in  the  heart's  blood  of  the  next  preacher  that  came  ; 
but  before  the  next  preacher  came  she  was  carried  to  her  long 
home.  A  little  before  John  Johnson  settled  at  Wentworth 
a  stout,  healthy  man  who  lived  there  told  his  neighbours, 
'  After  May  Day  we  shall  have  nothing  but  praying  and 
preaching ;  but  I  will  make  noise  enough  to  stop  it'  But 
before  May  Day  he  was  silent  in  his  grave.  A  servant  of  Lord 
R[ockingham]  was  as  bitter  as  him,  and  told  many  lies  purposely 
to  make  mischief;  but  before  this  was  done,  his  mouth  was 
stopped.     He  was  drowned  in  one  of  the  fishponds.2 

Fri.  29. — I  preached  at  Nottingham.3  We  want  nothing  here 
but  a  large  house. 

Sal.  30. — I  preached  in  the  evening  at  Leicester  to  a  large 
congregation. 

Sun.  31. — I  rode  over  to  Markfield.  The  church  contained 
us  tolerably  well  in  the  morning  ;  but  in  the  afternoon,  though 
many  stayed  without,  it  was  much  crowded  and  sultry  hot. 
I  was  quite  faint  and  weary  while  I  read  prayers ;  but  in 
preaching  my  strength  was  restored.  At  six  I  preached  once 
more  at  Leicester,  and  delivered  my  own  soul. 

Aug.  \,Mon. — I  had  much  conversation  with  Mr.  [Simpson] ; 
whom,  against  a  thousand  appearances,  I  will  believe  to  be  an 
honest  though  irresolute  man.  '  While  I  was  very  uneasy,'  said 
he,  'in  the  year  1741,  my  brother  brought  me  to  Mr.  Spangen- 
berg,  and  then  to  others  of  the  German  Brethren,  to  whom  I 
was  more  and  more  attached  till,  in  the  year  1743,  I  went 
over  to  Marienborn.  There  I  saw  many  things  which  I  could 
not  approve  ;  and  was  more  and  more  uneasy  till  I  returned  to 
England.     I  was  afterward  much  employed   by  the  Brethren. 


1  In  a  house  in  Mulberry  Street,  which  Everett's  Methodism  in  Sheffield,  p.  109. 
in  1757  was  converted  into  a  chapel  3  In  Matthew  Bagshaw's  house  in 
(W.M.  Mag.  1835,  P-  6°6)-  Crosland   Yard,    Narrow  Marsh.     Har- 

2  For     other     chief    opponents     see  wood's  Methodism  in  Nottingham,  p.  32. 


232  John   Wesley  s  Journal  rAug.  1757. 

I  was  ordained  Deacon.  But  still  I  had  a  sore  and  burdened 
conscience,  and  gained  no  ground  in  my  spiritual  warfare  : 
rather,  having  laid  aside  prayer  and  searching  the  Scripture,  I 
was  more  and  more  dead  to  God.  But  in  1750  I  awoke  again, 
and  was  under  great  agonies  of  mind.  And  from  this  time  I 
wrote  to  the  Count  again  and  again,  and  to  most  of  the 
Labourers  ;  but  to  no  purpose.  Andrew  Frey's  account  is  true. 
The  spirit  of  levity  and  frolicsomeness,  which  he  justly  describes, 
broke  in  about  1746,  and  is  not  purged  out  yet.  In  May  last  I 
wrote  and  delivered  a  declaration  to  the  Brethren  met  in 
Conference  at  Lindsey  House,1  that  I  did  not  dare  to  remain 
in  their  connexion  any  longer.  The  same  declaration  I  made 
to  them  here  a  few  days  ago.  What  further  I  am  to  do,  I 
know  not ;  but  I  trust  God  will  direct  me.'  - 

Tues.  2. — On  his  expressing  a  desire  to  be  present  at  our 
Conference,  I  invited  him  to  it ;  and  on  Wednesday  the  3rd,  in 
the  evening,  he  came  to  the  Foundery.  Our  Conference  3  began 
the  next  morning,  and  continued  till  the  Thursday  following. 
From  the  first  hour  to  the  last  there  was  no  jarring  string,  but 
all  was  harmony  and  love.4 

Mon.  8. — I  took  a  walk  in  the  Charterhouse.  I  wondered 
that  all  the  squares  and  buildings,  and  especially  the  school- 
boys, looked  so  little.  But  this  is  easily  accounted  for.  I  was 
little  myself  when  I  was  at  school,  and  measured  all  about  me 
by  myself.  Accordingly,  the  upper  boys,  being  then  bigger 
than  myself,  seemed  to  me  very  big  and  tall  ;  quite  contrary  to 
what  they  appear  now,  when  I  am  taller  and  bigger  than  them. 
I  question  if  this  is  not  the  real  ground  of  the  common  imagina- 
tion that  our  forefathers,  and  in  general  men  in  past  ages, 
were  much  larger  than  now — an  imagination  current  in  the 
world   eighteen   hundred    years   ago.      So  Virgil   supposes   his 


1  In  Chelsea.     Leased  to  Zinzendorf  in  See  vol.  i.   of  reprinted   Minutes.      No 

1750  for  a  Moravian  settlement.      For-  minutes  have  been  preserved.     We  know 

merly   the     property    of    the   Duke    of  from  letters  published  by  Tyerman,  in  his 

Ancaster.     See  Memoirs  of  Hutton,  pp.  Life  of  Wesley,  vol.  ii.  pp.  279-83,  that 

256,  257  ;   W.M.  Mag.  1912,  p.  689.  the  Church  question  was  discussed. 

-  See  C.  of  Huntingdon  s  Life,  vol.  i.  •  On  Sunday  the  7th  he  preached  at 

pp.  47,  48.  West  Street,  17th,  probably  at  Wcstmin- 

J  Aug.  4.    The  fourteenth  Conference.  stcr,  and  18th,  Zoar. 


Sept.  1757.1 


A    Western  Journey  23; 


warrior  to  throw  a  stone  that  could  scarce  be  wielded  by 
twelve  men  : 

Qualia  nunc  hominum  producit  corpora  tellus.1 
So  Homer,  long  before  : 

OlOl    VVV    jSpOTOt    et<Ti.- 

Whereas,  in  reality,  men  have  been,  at  least  ever  since  the 
Deluge,  very  nearly  the  same  as  we  find  them  now,  both  for 
stature  and  understanding.3 

Mon.  22. — I  set  out  in  the  machine,  and  the  next  evening 
reached  Bristol. 

Fri.  26. — I  preached  at  nine  to  a  small  congregation  of 
earnest  people  at  Clutton  ;  and  in  the  evening  at  Middlezoy. 
On  Saturday  the  27th  we  rode  on  to  Tiverton. 

Sun,  28. — I  preached  in  the  market-house  to  as  large  a 
congregation  as  ever  I  saw  here  ;  and  all  were  quiet.  So  can 
God  make,  when  it  is  best,  all  our  enemies  to  be  at  peace 
with  us. 

Man.  29. — We  rode  through  vehement  wind  and  many  hard 
showers  to  Launceston.  This  gave  me  a  violent  fit  of  the 
toothache,  which,  however,  did  not  hinder  my  preaching.  Such 
a  night  I  never  remember  to  have  passed  before  ;  but  all  is  good 
which  lies  in  the  way  to  glory. 

Tues.  30. — We  rode  to  Camel  ford,  where  my  toothache  was 
cured  by  rubbing  treacle  upon  my  cheek.  At  six  I  preached  in 
the  market-place.  How  are  the  lions  in  this  town  also  become 
lambs ! 

Wed.  31. — I  preached  about  noon  at  Trevvalder,  and  in  the 
evening  at  Port  Isaac.  This  was  long  a  barren  soil  ;  but  is  at 
length  likely  to  bring  forth  much  fruit. 

SEPT.  2,  Fri. — I  rode  to  St.  Agnes.  We  found  the  great 
man,  Mr.  Donnithorne,4  was  dead.  His  mother  and  sister  sent 
to  invite  me  to  their  house.      After  preaching  I  went  thither, 


1  '  Men  that,  in  size  of  body,  are  like  fields.     Between  the  8th  and  the  22nd  he 

those   whom   the   earth   now  produces.'  finished  his  treatise  on  Original  Sin. 

See  W.H.S.  vol.  v.  p.  31.  *  Eldest  son  of  Nicholas  Donnithorne, 

'  'Such  as  are  the  men  of  these  our  Sheriff  of  Cornwall  in  1731.    See  W.H.S. 

days'  (ibid.).  vol.  iv.  p.  190. 

s  On  the  14th  he  preached  at  Spital- 


234  John   Wesley  s  Journal  ts«pt.  1757. 

and  was  received  into  a  comfortable  lodging  with  the  most  free 
and  cordial  affection.  So  in  this  place  the  knowledge  of  God 
has  already  travelled  '  from  the  least  unto  the  greatest.' 

Sat.  3. — Some  who  live  here  gave  me  an  account  of  the 
earthquake  on  July  15.  There  was  first  a  rumbling  noise  under 
the  ground,  hoarser  and  deeper  than  common  thunder.  Then 
followed  a  trembling  of  the  earth,  which  afterward  waved  once 
or  twice  to  and  fro  so  violently  that  one  said  he  was  obliged  to 
take  a  back-step,  or  he  should  have  fallen  down ;  and  another 
that  the  wall  against  which  he  was  leaning  seemed  to  be 
shrinking  from  him. 

This  morning  I  talked  at  large  with  old  Mrs.  Donnithorne, 
who  has  her  understanding  entire,  reads  without  spectacles, 
walks  without  a  staff,  and  has  scarce  a  wrinkle,  at  ninety  years 
of  age.  But  what  is  more  than  all  this,  she  is  teachable  as  a 
child,  and  groaning  for  salvation.  In  the  afternoon  I  spent  an 
hour  with  Mr.  Vowler,1  curate  of  the  parish,  who  rejoices  in  the 
love  of  God,  and  both  preaches  and  lives  the  gospel. 

Sun.  4. — I T preached  at  five.     I  could  scarce  have 

believed,  if  I  had  not  heard  it,  that  few  men  of  learning  write  so 
correctly  as  an  unlearned  tinner  speaks  extempore.2  Mr.  V[owler] 
preached  two  such  thundering  sermons  at  church  as  I  have  scarce 
heard  these  twenty  years.  Oh  how  gracious  is  God  to  the  poor 
sinners  of  St.  Agnes  !  In  the  church  and  out  of  the  church  they 
hear  the  same  great  truths  of  the  wrath  of  God  against  sin,  and 
His  love  to  those  that  are  in  Christ  Jesus  ! 

Mon.  5. — I  rode  on  to  Illogan,  but  not  to  the  house  where 
I  used  to  preach  ;  indeed,  his  wife  promised  Mr.  P.  before  he 
died  that  she  would  always  receive  the  preachers,  but  she  soon 
changed  her  mind.  God  has  just  taken  her  only  son,  suddenly 
killed  by  a  pit  falling  upon  him  ;  and  on  Tuesday  last  a  young, 
strong  man,  riding  to  his  burial,  dropped  off  his  horse  stone  dead. 
The  concurrence  of  these  awful  providences  added  considerably 
to  our  congregation. 

Tices.  6.3 — I  went  on  to  Camborne,  and  rejoiced  to  hear  that 


1  See  W.H.S.  vol.  iv.  pp.  52,  190.  sons  of  a  tinner,  above,  vol.  iii.  p.  263. 
Vowler  was  a  friend  of  Samuel  Walker,  3  He  wrote  a  letter  from  Tremeneare 

rector  of  Truro.     He  died  July  30,  1758.  to  Miss  Furly  ( Works,  vol.  xii.   p.    199) 

■  Cf.  W.    Ilitchens  and  his  brothers,  on  this  date. 


Sept.  1767.! 


///   Cornwall  235 


the  gentleman  who  '  pressed  '  Mr.  Maxfield  '  no  longer  persecutes 
the  Methodists,  nor  will  suffer  any  one  else  to  do  it ;  and  in  the 
late  dearth  he  relieved  great  numbers  of  the  poor  and  saved 
many  families  from  perishing.  I  preached  at  six  on  '  I  will 
heal  their  backsliding,'  and  God  applied  His  word.  Several 
who  had  left  the  society  for  some  years  came  after  sermon  and 
desired  to  be  readmitted.  Oh  how  should  our  bowels  yearn 
over  all  that  did  once  run  well !  This  is  the  very  thing  we 
want,  or  how  many  souls  might  wc  yet  pluck  out  of  the  jaws 
of  the  lion  ! 

Wed.  7. — I  observed  more  and  more  the  effects  of  that 
burning  wind  which  was  in  these  parts  on  Sunday,  the  28th 
of  last  month.  It  not  only  scorched  all  the  leaves  of  the  trees, 
so  as  to  bring  mid-winter  upon  them  in  two  hours,  but  burned 
up  all  the  leaves  of  potatoes  and  cabbage,  and  every  green 
thing  which  it  touched.  What  a  mercy  that  it  did  not  come 
a  month  sooner !  Then  it  would  have  left  little  work  for  the 
reapers. 

Thur.  8. — As  we  rode  through  Gwithian  parish  Mr.  Harris 
pointed  out  the  place  where  his  father  and  many  of  his  ancestors 
lived.  It  is  now  only  a  mountain  of  sand.  Within  a  few  years 
this  so  increased  as  to  bury  both  the  church  and  the  whole  town. 

I  preached  at  six  to  a  numerous  congregation  in  Ludgvan. 
Some  years  since,  when  there  was  a  flourishing  society  in  Gulval 
(the  parish  adjoining),  there  was  none  at  all  here.  But  how  is 
the  scene  changed  !  In  Gulval  not  one  class,  not  one  member, 
remains  ;  in  Ludgvan  there  is  a  lively  society  ! 

Fri.  9. — I  preached  in  the  new  house  at  St.  Just,  the  largest 
and  most  commodious  in  the  county. 

Sat.  10. — We  rode  to  the  Land's  End.  I  know  no  natural 
curiosity  like  this.  The  vast,  ragged  stones  rise  on  every  side 
when  you  are  near  the  point  of  land,  with  green  turf  between,  as 
level  and  smooth  as  if  it  were  the  effect  of  art.  And  the  rocks 
which  terminate  the  land  are  so  torn  by  the  sea  that  they  appear 
like  great  heaps  of  ruins. 

Sun.  1 1. — I  preached  at  St.  Just  at  nine.  At  one  the  congre- 
gation in  Morvah  stood  on  a  sloping  ground,  rank  above  rank, 


'  June  19,  1745.     See  above,  vol.  iii.  p.  182. 


236  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [sept.  17157. 

as  in  a  theatre.  Many  of  them  bewailed  their  want  of  God,  and 
many  tasted  how  gracious  He  is. 

At  five  I  preached  in  Newlyn  to  a  huge  multitude,  and  one 
only  seemed  to  be  offended — a  very  good  sort  of  woman,  who 
took  great  pains  to  get  away,  crying  aloud,  '  Nay,  if  going 
to  church  and  sacrament  will  not  put  us  to  heaven,  I  know  not 
what  will.' 

Mon.  12. — I  preached  in  Lelant  at  one.  Many  from  St.  Ives 
were  present,  from  whom  I  learned  that  Mr.  Swindells  would 
have  preached  abroad  the  day  before,  but  was  hindered.  It  is 
well  he  was,  for  this  occasioned  the  offer  of  a  meadow  near  the 
town,  far  more  convenient  than  the  street.  At  six  I  stood  at 
the  bottom  of  it,  the  people  rising  higher  and  higher  before  me. 
I  believe  not  many  were  left  in  the  town,  and  all  behaved  as 
in  the  presence  of  God.  The  next  evening  the  congregation 
was  enlarged  by  the  addition  of  many  from  the  country,  and 
Wednesday  the  14th  their  number  was  larger  still.  We  did  not 
open  the  door  of  the  room  till  just  half-hour  past  eight,  by 
which  means  the  heat  was  not  intolerable  till  I  had  done  preach- 
ing. I  then  retired,  and  left  the  other  preachers  to  perform  the 
rest  of  the  service. 

Thur.  15. — As  we  rode  toward  Helston  I  think  the  sun  was 
near  as  hot  as  it  was  at  midsummer,  yet  all  along  the  trees 
looked  as  in  the  depth  of  winter,  that  scorching  wind  having 
destroyed  all  it  touched. 

Fri.  16. — I  looked  over  Mr.  Borlase'sAntiquities  of  Cornwall} 
He  is  a  fine  writer,  and  quite  master  of  his  subject,  who  has 
distinguished  with  amazing  accuracy  the  ancient  Saxon  monu- 
ments from  the  more  ancient  Roman,  and  from  those  of  the 
Druids,  the  most  ancient  of  all.2 


1  Borlase,     William,     LL.D.    (1695-  clergy  of  the  Church  of  England  and  the 

1772):     Antiquities,      Historical     and  Methodists  into  closer  association.     See 

Monumental,  of  the  County  of  Cornwall.  Moore's  Life  of  Wesley,  vol.  ii.  pp.  196- 

Oxford,  1754,  folio;  2nd  ed.  1769.     Dr.  205.     The  above  reference  includes  this 

Borlase  was  the  old  opposer  and  perse-  letter   and   the   Circular   Letter  written 

cutor  of    the   Methodists.     See    above,  from   Scarborough   April   29,    1764,    to 

vol.  iii.  p.  129.  such  clergymen  as  he  believed  to  be  in 

*  On  the   16th  he  wrote  to  the  Rev.  sympathy  with   the   general   belief   and 

Samuel  Walker,  of  Truro  (  Works,  vol.  aims  of  Methodism.     The  attempt  failed, 

xiii.  p.  201).     This  letter  was  one  of  a  rendering    the    continued     use    of    lay 

series  of  attempts  to  bring  the  evangelical  preachers  and  organized  societies  essential. 


Sept.  1757) 


In  Cornwall  237 


Sat.  17. —  I  preached  at  Porkellis  at  one,  and  at  Redruth  in 
the  evening. 

Sun.  18. — At  eight  many  of  the  French  prisoners  were  mixed 
with  the  usual  congregation.  This  was  doubled  at  one,  but 
still  came  nothing  near  to  that  which  assembled  at  Gwennap 
in  the  evening.  It  rained  all  the  time  I  preached,  but  none 
went  away.  A  shower  of  rain  will  not  fright  experienced 
soldiers. 

Here  I  learned  a  remarkable  occurrence  :  A  few  days  ago 
some  hundred  English,  who  had  been  prisoners  in  France, 
were  landed  at  Penzance  by  a  cartel  ship.  Many  of  these 
passed  through  Redruth  going  home,  but  in  a  most  forlorn 
condition.  None  showed  more  compassion  to  them  than  the 
French.  They  gave  them  food,  clothes,  or  money,  and  told 
them,  '  We  wish  we  could  do  more,  but  we  have  little  for 
ourselves  here.'  Several  who  had  only  two  shirts  gave  a  naked 
Englishman  one.  A  French  boy,  meeting  an  English  boy,  who 
was  half  naked,  took  hold  of  him  and  stopped  him,  cried  over 
him  a  while,  and  then  pulled  off  his  own  coat  and  put  it  upon 
him  ! 

Mon.  19. — In  the  evening  both  the  house  and  court  at 
Penryn  were  more  than  filled,  so  that  I  willingly  embraced  the 
offer  of  Mr.  H.,  and  preached  before  his  door  at  twelve  on 
Tuesday.1  It  was  an  extremely  pleasant  place  on  the  side  of  a 
hill,  commanding  a  fruitful  vale,  the  opposite  hills,  and  Falmouth 
Harbour.  Tall  trees  hung  over  me,  and  surrounded  a  bowling- 
green  which  was  behind  me.  A  wide  door  is  now  open  at 
Penryn  also.     Oh  that  none  may  shut  it ! 

At  six  in  the  evening  I  reached  Besore  and  began 
preaching  immediately.  It  was  a  season  of  uncommon  refresh- 
ment, particularly  to  some  of  Truro.  Afterwards  I  met  the 
society  in  the  house.  A  young  man  was  cut  to  the  heart,  and 
cried  aloud,  then  another  and  another,  till  my  voice  was  quite 
lost.  But  I  continued  crying  to  God,  and  He  heard,  and 
gave  an  answer  of  peace.     Many  were  filled  with  consolation, 


1  On  this  day  he  wrote  a  letter  '  To  a  Day  ;  a  letter   full   of  strong   words  on 

Friend'  ( Works,  vol.  xiii.  p.  216)  on  the  behaviour  in  church,  conduct  of  worship, 

advantages  which  the  Methodists  enjoy  singing,    voluntaries,   celebration  of  the 

in  regard  to  public  worship  on  the  Lord's  Lord's  Supper,  &c. 


238  John    Wesley's  Journal  sept.  1767. 

and  four  who  had  wandered  for  some  years  resolved  to  set  out 
anew. 

Yet  I  was  not  quite  reconciled  to  my  lodging.  Not  but  the 
grotto  itself  was  very  venerable,  but  I  did  not  like  the  circum- 
stance of  having  a  man  and  his  wife  in  the  same  room.  I  therefore 
willingly  accepted  an  invitation  from  Mr.  Painter,  and  walked 
over  with  him  to  Truro. 

Wed.2\. — I  walked  toBesore  and  preached  at  five.  Afterwards 
I  spoke  to  each  member  of  the  society.  They  surprised  me  much. 
So  lively  and  tender-hearted  a  people  I  have  not  lately  seen. 
After  spending  an  hour  with  a  few  friends  in  Truro  I  rode 
forward  to  Grampound — a  mean,  inconsiderable,  dirty  village. 
However,  it  is  a  borough  town  !  Between  twelve  and  one  I 
began  preaching  in  a  meadow  to  a  numerous  congregation. 
While  we  were  singing  I  observed  a  person  in  black  on  the  far 
side  of  the  meadow,  who  said, '  Come  down,  you  have  no  business 
there.'  Some  boys  who  were  on  a  wall,  taking  it  for  granted 
that  he  spoke  to  them,  got  down  in  all  haste.  I  went  on,  and  he 
walked  away.  I  afterwards  understood  that  he  was  the  minister 
and  the  mayor  of  Grampound.  Soon  after  two  constables  came 
and  said,  '  Sir,  the  mayor  says  you  shall  not  preach  within  his 
borough.'  I  answered,  '  The  mayor  has  no  authority  to  hinder 
me  ;  but  it  is  a  point  not  worth  contesting.'  So  I  went  about 
a  musket-shot  farther,  and  left  the  borough  to  Mr.  Mayor's 
disposal. 

A  large  congregation  was  at  St.  Ewe  in  the  evening,  many  of 
whom  were  in  Mr.  Walker's  societies.  Some  of  them  came  from 
St.  Columb,  twelve  miles  off.  And  they  did  not  come  in  vain. 
The  flame  of  love  ran  from  heart  to  heart,  and  scarce  any 
remained  unmoved. 

Tliur.  22. — I  rode  to  Mevagissey,  which  lies  on  the  south  sea 
just  opposite  to  Port  Isaac  on  the  north.  When  I  was  here  last 
we  had  no  place  in  the  town  ;  I  could  only  preach  about  half  a 
mile  from  it.  But  things  are  altered  now:  I  preached  just  over  the 
town  to  almost  all  the  inhabitants,  and  all  were  still  as  night. 
The  next  evening  a  drunken  man  made  some  noise  behind  me, 
but  after  a  few  words  were  spoken  to  him  he  quietly  listened  to 
the  rest  of  the  discourse. 

On    the  south  side  of  the  town  there  is  an  extremely  fine 


Sept.  1757.) 


In  Cornwall  239 


walk,  broad  and  smooth,  over  the  top  of  high  rocks,  from  whence 
is  a  view  of  the  main  sea  at  a  vast  distance  below,  and  all  the 
coast  east  and  west.1 

Sat.  24. — At  half  hour  after  twelve  I  preached  once  more 
and  took  my  leave  of  them.  All  the  time  I  stayed  the  wind 
blew  from  the  sea,  so  that  no  boat  could  stir  out.  By  this  means 
all  the  fishermen  (who  are  the  chief  part  of  the  town)  had  oppor- 
tunity of  hearing. 

At  six  I  preached  at  St.  Austell,  a  neat  little  town  on  the 
side  of  a  fruitful  hill. 

Sun.  25. — The  whole  church  service  was  performed  by 
a  clergyman,  above  ninety  years  of  age.  His  name  is 
Stephen  Hugo.2  He  has  been  vicar  of  St.  Austell-  between 
sixty  and  seventy  years.  Oh  what  might  a  man  full  of 
faith  and  zeal  have  done  for  God  in  such  a  course  of 
time  ! 3 

At  two  I  preached  in  St.  Stephen's-[in-Branwell],4  near  a  lone 
house  on  the  side  of  a  barren  mountain  ;  but  neither  the  house 
nor  the  court  could  contain  the  people  ;  so  we  went  into  a 
meadow,  where  all  might  kneel  (which  they  generally  do  in 
Cornwall),  as  well  as  stand  and  hear.  And  they  did  hear,  and 
sing,  and  pray,  as  for  life.  I  saw  none  careless  or  inattentive 
among  them. 

About  five  I  preached  at  St.  Austell  to  an  exceeding  civil 
people.  But  when  will  they  be  wounded,  that  they  may  be 
healed  ? 


1  The  view  extends  from  the  Ram's  4  The  Rev.  S.  Yelland  Richards,  a 
Head  in  the  east  to  the  Dead  Man  in  descendant  of  Wesley's  host  during  this 
the  west.  visit  [John  Yelland], writes  :  St.  Stephen's- 

2  Or  Hewgoe,  or  Hugoe.  Canon  Ham-  in-Branwell  is  the  name  of  a  large  parish 
mond,  in  his  Account  of  St.  Austell,  adjoining  St.  Austell.  This  visit,  how- 
refers  to  '  the  attenuated  amounts  which  ever,  was  paid,  not  to  St.  Stephen's 
his  congregations  contributed  to  charities.'  Churchtown,  but  to  St.  Stephen's  Coonibe 
{IV. U.S.  vol.  iv.  p.  191.)  — a  village  a  mile  and  a  half  away,  and 

1  From  St.  Austell  he  wrote  a  letter  to  over  four  miles  from  St.  Austell.  Wesley 
Miss  Furly  ( Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  200).  reached  the  village  by  riding  over  the 
From  December  1756  until  November  Downs,  which  makes  him  speak  of  a 
1783  he  corresponded  with  Miss  Furly,  'barren  mountain.'  The  spot  where  he 
who  about  1763  married  John  Downes,  preached  is  still  pointed  out  on  the  Hard- 
one  of  Wesley's  most  trusted  and  admired  head  Road,  and  the  house  in  which  he 
preachers.  was  entertained  is  still  standing. 


240  John    Wesley  s  Journal  roct.1757. 

Man.  26. — I  rode  to  Medrose  in  Luxulyan  parish.1 

I  have  not  seen  so  stately  a  room  in  Cornwall  as  either  this 
hall  or  the  chamber  over  it.  The  place  likewise  where  the 
gardens  were,  the  remains  of  the  terrace-walk,  the  stately  trees 
still  left,  with  many  other  tokens,  show  that  grand  men  lived 
here  once.  But  they  are  vanished  like  smoke,  their  estates  torn 
in  pieces,  and  wellnigh  their  memory  perished. 

Tues.  27. — We  rode  to  Liskeard,2  I  think  one  of  the  largest 
and  pleasantest  towns  in  Cornwall.  I  preached  about  the 
middle  of  the  town,  in  a  broad,  convenient  place.  No  person 
made  any  noise  at  all.  At  six  in  the  morning  I  had  nearly 
the  same  congregation.  Afterwards  I  examined  the  society 
and  was  agreeably  surprised  to  hear  that  every  one  of  them  had 
found  peace  with  God  ;  and  (what  was  still  more  remarkable) 
that  none  of  them  has  left  their  first  love  ;  that  at  this  day  not 
one  is  in  darkness  ! 

Wed.  28. — We  rode  on  to  the  Dock,  which  gave  us  a  very 
different  prospect.  Of  those  whom  I  joined  several  years  ago, 
hardly  one  half  remained.  Such  is  the  fruit  of  disputing  !  And 
yet  the  congregations  are  more  numerous  than  ever  ;  and  as 
deeply  attentive  as  any  in  the  kingdom.  So  there  is  hope  God 
will  yet  revive  His  work.5 

Oct.  1,  Sat. — I  preached  at  Launceston.4 

Sun.  2. — I  rode  to  Week  *  St.  Mary.  A  large  congregation 
was  gathered  there,  many  of  whom  came  seven  or  eight  miles. 
The  house  stands  in  the  midst  of  orchards  and  meadows,  sur- 
rounded by  gently  rising  hills.  I  preached  on  the  side  of  a 
meadow  newly  mown,  to  a  deeply  attentive  people. 

Mon.  3. — I  rode  to  Bideford,  but  did  not  reach  it  till  after 
five,  the  hour  appointed  for  my  preaching.     So  I  began  without 


1  Medrose,  or  Methrose.     The  man-  notices    of  John    Phillips   of  Liskeard, 
sion    originally    belonged   to   the    Ken-  a  convert  of  Samuel  Furly. 

dalls,    one    of    whom     (Nicholas)    built  3  He  preached  also  during  September 

it.     The  carved   chimney-piece  has   the  at  Barford  and  Bedford, 

armorial  bearings  of  many  distinguished  *  In  October  he  wrote  another  letter  to 

families.      In    Wesley's    day    the  man-  Mr.  Walker  {Arm.  Mag.  1782,  p.  269). 

sion     was    a    farmhouse     occupied    by  s  Probably  'Week'  here  is  a  corrup- 

Mr.    Meager.      (IV.H.S.  vol.  iv.   p.  tion  of  '  wick,' or  '  wic  '  (A.  S.)  meaning 

91.)  'town.'      Cf.    the    Cornish   use    of  the 

2  See   Meth.    Mag.   1834,  p.  630,   for  name  'church-town.' 


oct.i757.j  Bristol  and  Kingswood  241 

delay,  in  an  open  part  of  the  street,  where  we  alighted.  One 
man  made  a  little  noise  at  first,  but  he  was  easily  silenced.  All 
the  rest  (a  large  number)  quietly  attended,  though  the  wind  was 
piercing  cold,  while  I  opened  and  applied  '  God  forbid  that  I 
should  glory,  save  in  the  cross  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.' 

Tues.  4. — Between  twelve  and  one  I  reached  North  Molton, 
and,  finding  the  congregation  ready,  began  immediately.  There 
have  been  great  tumults  here  since  I  saw  them  before  ;  but 
God  has  now  rebuked  the  storm.  When  the  gentry  would 
neither  head  nor  pay  the  mob  any  more,  the  poor  rabble  were 
quiet  as  lambs. 

We  rode  on  to  Tiverton  in  the  afternoon.  On  the  three 
following  days  I  saw  as  many  of  the  societies  as  I  could. 

Sat.  8. — We  had  heavy  rain  for  some  miles  ;  then  it  cleared 
up,  and  we  had  a  pleasant  ride  to  Bristol. 

Mon.  10. —  I  rose  at  my  usual  hour  ;  but  the  soreness  and 
swelling  of  my  face,  occasioned  by  my  taking  cold  on  Saturday, 
made  it  impracticable  for  me  to  preach.  In  the  evening  I  applied 
boiled  nettles.  They  took  away  the  pain  in  a  moment,  and  the 
swelling  in  a  few  hours. 

Sun.  16. — I  began  visiting  the  classes  at  Kingswood  :  steady, 
but  not  zealous.  It  is  impossible  they  should  stand  here  long ; 
they  must  go  on,  or  go  back. 

Mon.  17. — About  two  I  preached  at  Paulton  ;  but  no  house 
could  contain  us,  so  that  I  was  forced  to  stand  in  the  open  air, 
though  the  wind  was  very  high  and  very  cold.  Thence  we 
rode  to  the  honest  colliers  at  Coleford.  These  have  the  zeal 
which  their  brethren  at  Kingswood  want  ;  in  consequence  of 
which  they  are  the  most  numerous  as  well  as  the  most  lively 
society  in  Somersetshire. 

Tues.  18. — I  preached  to  a  very  different  congregation  at  Brad- 
ford, well-dressed  and  well-bred  :  and  yet  of  the  very  same  spirit, 
hungering  and  thirsting  after  righteousness. 

Wed.  19. — After  preaching  at  Freshford,1  I  rode  on  to  Kings- 
wood. 

Fri.  2 1.2 — Being  at  dinner,  in  a  moment  I  felt  as  if  a  small 


1  See  Memoirs  of  Mrs.  Jane  Godwine  member  of  society  for  seventy-five  years. 

(Meth.  Mag.  1822,  p.  755).     She  died  111  ■  From   Bristol    he    wrote    a    letter   to 

1S22,    aged    ninety-two,   after    being   a  Miss  Furly.     (.  Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  201.) 

VOL.   IV  IS 


242  John   Wesley's  Journal  [Oct.  1757. 

bone  had  stuck  in  the  palate  of  my  mouth.  Nothing  was  to  be 
seen,  but  the  swelling  and  inflammation  increased  till  toward 
evening  (notwithstanding  all  means  that  could  be  used),  and 
then  spread  to  both  the  tonsils.  In  the  morning  1  was  rather 
worse  than  better,  till  about  half  an  hour  after  eight.  Then,  as 
the  disorder  came  in  a  moment,  it  went  in  a  moment,  and  I  was 
as  well  as  ever. 

Mon.  24. — I  preached  about  noon  at  Bath,  and  in  the  evening 
at  Eastcott,  near  Lavington. 

Tues.  25. — In  my  return,  a  man  met  me  near  Hanham,  and 
told  me  the  school-house l  at  Kingswood  was  burned  down. 
I  felt  not  one  moment's  pain,  knowing  that  God  does  all 
things  well.  When  I  came  thither  I  received  a  fuller 
account.  About  eight  on  Monday  evening  two  or  three  boys 
went  into  the  gallery,  up  two  pair  of  stairs.  One  of  them 
heard  a  strange  crackling  in  the  room  above.  Opening  the 
stair-case  door,  he  was  beat  back  by  smoke,  on  which  he  cried 
out,  '  Fire  !  Murder  !  Fire  ! '  Mr.  Baynes,2  hearing  this,  ran 
immediately  down,  and  brought  up  a  pail  of  water.  But 
when  he  went  into  the  room,  and  saw  the  blaze,  he  had  not 
presence  of  mind  to  go  up  to  it,  but  threw  the  water  upon  the 
floor.  Meantime  one  of  the  boys  rung  the  bell  ;  another 
called  John  Maddern  3  from  the  next  house,  who  ran  up,  as 
did  James  Burges  quickly  after,  and  found  the  room  all  in  a 
flame.  The  deal  partitions  took  fire  immediately,  which  spread 
to  the  roof  of  the  house.  Plenty  of  water  was  now  brought  ; 
but  they  could  not  come  nigh  the  place  where  it  was  wanted, 
the  room  being  so  filled  with  flame  and  smoke  that  none 
could  go  into  it.  At  last  a  long  ladder,  which  lay  in  the 
garden,  was  reared  up  against  the  wall  of  the  house.  But  it 
was  then  observed  that  one  of  the  sides  of  it  was  broke  in 
two,  and  the  other  quite  rotten.  However,  John  How  (a  young 
man  who  lived  next  door) 4  ran  up  it,  with  an  axe  in  his  hand. 


'  i.e.  the  school  opened  in   1748,  not  English  master  at  Kingswood  until  1760. 

the  original  Colliers'  Children's  School.  '  Son    of    the  John   How   mentioned 

-  William    Baynes  was  at  Kingswood  Oct.  16,    175 1.      Wesley's   parish   clerk 

until    1760.     He   itinerated   until    1 77 1,  and  first   leader  in    Savannah   bore   the 

and  died  in  1777.    (History  of  Kingswood  same    name.        A    letter    from    Wesley 

School,  pp.  47,  48.)  about    the    burning    of    his     house     in 

4  An  itinerant  preacher  from  1749-56;  Savannah  is  in  the  State  Paper  Office. 


Not.  1767  ) 


In  Bristol  243 


But  he  then  found  the  ladder  was  so  short  that,  as  he  stood 
on  the  top  of  it,  he  could  but  just  lay  one  hand  over  the  battle- 
ments. How  he  got  over  to  the  leads  none  can  tell,  but  he 
did  so,  and  quickly  broke  through  the  roof,  on  which,  a  vent 
being  made,  the  smoke  and  flame  issued  out  as  from  a  furnace. 
Those  who  were  at  the  foot  of  the  stairs  with  water,  being 
able  to  go  no  farther,  then  went  through  the  smoke  to  the 
door  of  the  leads,  and  poured  it  down  through  the  tiling.  By 
this  means  the  fire  was  quickly  quenched,  having  only  consumed 
a  part  of  the  partition,  with  a  box  of  clothes,  and  a  little  damaged 
the  roof  and  the  floor  beneath. 

It  is  amazing  that  so  little  hurt  was  done  ;  for  the  fire,  which 
began  in  the  middle  of  the  long  room  (none  can  imagine  how, 
for  no  person  had  been  there  for  several  hours  before),  was 
so  violent  that  it  broke  every  pane  of  glass  but  two  in  the 
window,  both  at  the  east  and  west  end.  What  was  more 
amazing  still  was  that  it  did  not  hurt  either  the  beds  (which 
when  James  Burges  came  in,  seemed  all  covered  with  flame), 
nor  the  deal  partitions  on  the  other  side  of  the  room,  though  it 
beat  against  them  for  a  considerable  time.  What  can  we  say  to 
these  things  but  that  God  had  fixed  the  bounds  which  it  could 
not  pass  ? 

We  observed  Friday  the  28th  as  a  solemn  fast ;  and  from 
this  time  the  work  of  God  revived  in  Bristol.  We  were  indeed 
brought  very  low.  A  society  of  nine  hundred  members  was 
shrunk  to  little  more  than  half  the  number.  But  God  now  began 
to  turn  our  captivity,  and  put  a  new  song  in  our  mouth.1 

Nov.  3,  Thur. — I  preached  in  the  new  preaching-house  at 
Pill.2  How  is  the  face  of  things  changed  here  !  Such  a  sink  of 
sin  was  scarce  to  be  found  ;  and  now  how  many  are  rejoicing  in 
God  their  Saviour ! 

Mon.  7. — Leaving  the  flame  just  kindling  in  Bristol,  I 
rode    to    Newbury,3    and    on    Tuesday    to    London.      1    found 


1  Nov.  1  is  the  date  at  the  beginning  222).     At   an  earlier  date  she  lived    in 

of  A    Sufficient   Answer  to  'Letters  to  Christopher     Alley,     Moorfields,     with 

the  Author  of  "  Tkeron  and  AspasioP  '  Mary  Clark  and  Mrs.  Crosby,  a   house 

{Works,  vol.  x.  p.  298.)  which     became     the    resort    of    saintly 

-  Now  the  Salvation  Army  Hall.  Methodist  women.     Here    Mary  Bosan- 

•  He  wrote  to  Mrs.  Ryan  the  first  of  a  quet  lodged  when  from  home.     Wesley 

series  of  letters  (  Works,  vol.  xii.  pp.  216-  made  Mrs.  Ryan  housekeeper  in  Bristol 


2  44  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [Nov.  1757. 

the    same    fire    kindled   here   also,   and   increasing   more   and 
more.1 

Mon.  14. — I  rode  to  Bedford,  and  talked  largely  with  Mr. 

-,  whom  God  had  wellnigh  set  at  liberty  ;  but  his  feet  are 


again  in  the  net.  He  did  not  indeed  deny,  nor  much  extenuate, 
any  of  the  things  he  had  often  related  ;  but  at  length  he  told  me 
in  terms,  '  There  are  such  things  among  the  Brethren  that  I  can 
never  join  them  more ;  yet  I  dare  not  speak  against  them  and 
join  any  other  people,  for  fear  of  grieving  the  Saviour.'  O  Lord, 
when  shall  this  witchcraft  come  to  an  end  ?  When  wilt  Thou 
maintain  Thine  own  cause  ? 

Wed.  16. — We  rode  to  Newmarket,  and  the  next  day  to 
Norwich,  where  I  now  found  a  prospect  of  doing  good.  The 
congregation  daily  increased,  and  grew  more  and  more  serious. 
I  spoke  to  many  who  were  deeply  convinced  of  sin,  and  some 
who  were  rejoicing  in  God  and  walking  in  the  light  of  His 
countenance.2 

Wed.  23. — I  was  shown  Dr.  Taylor's  new  meeting-house,3 
perhaps  the  most  elegant  one  in  Europe.  It  is  eight-square, 
built  of  the  finest  brick,  with  sixteen  sash-windows  below,  as 
many  above,  and  eight  skylights  in  the  dome,  which,  indeed,  are 
purely  ornamental.  The  inside  is  finished  in  the  highest  taste, 
and  is  as  clean  as  any  nobleman's  saloon.  The  communion- 
table is  fine  mahogany  ;  the  very  latches  of  the  pew-doors  are 
polished  brass.  How  can  it  be  thought  that  the  old,  coarse 
gospel  should  find  admission  here  ? 

Thur.  24. — A  man  had  spoken  to  me  the  last  week  as  I  was 


and    Kingswood,    to   the    annoyance    of  Who  lived  and  died  a  Christian. 

Mrs.  Wesley.     But  Sarah  Ryan   proved  See  Arm.   Mag.  1779,  p.  296;   Lije  oj 

herself  worthy   of  Wesley's  confidence.  Mrs.  Fletcher,  pp.  29,  31,  43,  44,  6o,  61, 

Returning   to  London,  she  devoted  the  67,  74,  75. 

rest  of  her  life   to  the   service   of  Mary  '  On  Saturday  the  12th  (or  more  prob- 

Bosanquet,  who  wrote  'The  Lord  gave  ably,  Sunday  the    13th)  he  preached  at 

her  to  me  as  a  mother.'     Henry  Moore,  the  Foundery  and  Bull-and-Mouth. 

who,  as  the  biographer  of  Wesley  and  of  -  The  Sermon  Register  gives  his  ap- 

Mrs.  Fletcher,  knew  intimately  the  inner  pointments  :    17th  and    19th,  Norwich  ; 

lifeof  Methodism, called  Sarah  Ryan  Mary  21st  and  23rd,  Norwich;  24th,   Laken- 

Bosanquet's    '  twin   soul,'  and   declared  heath.      On  Nov.  22  he  wrote  to  Mrs. 

that  'she  proved  the  whole  of  the  eight  Ryan  {Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  217). 

beatitudes.'     At  her  death  Mary  Bosan-  a  It    was   opened    in    1756.       It   cost 

quet   wrote    of     her,     '  My    invaluable  ,£5,000,  a  rare  sum  to  be  expended  in 

friend  .  .   .  those  days. 


Dec.  1767.1 


Return  to  London  245 


going  through  Thetford.and  desired  me  to  preach  at  Lakenheath, 
near  Mildenhall,  in  Suffolk.  I  now  purposed  so  to  do,  and 
rode  thither  from  Thetford.  One  Mr.  Evans  had  lately  built 
a  large  and  convenient  preaching- house  there  at  his  own 
expense.  It  was  more  than  filled  at  six  o'clock,  many  standing 
at  the  door.  At  five  in  the  morning  (as  uncommon  a  thing  as 
this  was  in  those  parts)  the  house  was  nearly  filled  again  with 
earnest,  loving,  simple  people.  Several  of  them  came  in  to 
Mr.  E[vans]'s  house  afterward,  stood  a  while,  and  then  burst  into 
tears.  I  promised  to  call  upon  them  again,  and  left  them  much 
comforted. 

Sat.  26. — I  returned  to  London.  Much  confusion  had  been, 
in  my  absence,  occasioned  by  some  imprudent  words  spoken  by 
one  who  seemed  to  be  strong  in  the  faith. 

Mon.  28. — I  heard  all  who  were  concerned  face  to  face,  but 
was  utterly  unable  to  judge  whether  there  was  wilful  sin,  lying 
on  either  side,  or  only  human  infirmity.  For  the  present  I  leave 
it  to  the  Searcher  of  hearts,  who  will  bring  all  things  to  light  in 
due  season. 

Wed.  30. — 1  had  another  long  hearing  of  the  same  intricate 
cause,  but  with  no  more  success  ;  one  side  flatly  affirmed,  the 
other  flatly  denied.1  This  is  strange  ;  but  it  is  more  strange 
that  those  who  seem  so  strong  in  faith  should  have  no  union  of 
spirit  with  each  other.2 

DEC.  5,  Mon. — I  baptized  Henriquez  Judah  Seniore,  a 
Portuguese  Jew  more  than  sixty  years  of  age.  He  seemed 
to  have  no  confidence  in  himself,  but  to  be  waiting  for  '  the 
consolation  of  Israel.'  3 

Sun.  11. — In  the  evening  I  retired  to  Lewisham,  and 
spent  the  following  days  in  finishing  A  Preservative  against 
Unsettled    Notions     in     Religion*    designed     for    the     use    of 

'  It  has  been  suggested  (Rev.   H.  J.  3  On  Dec.  3  he  preached  in  '  London,' 

Foster  in  unpublished    notes)  that   this  on  the  4th  at  the  Foundery,  and  on  the 

may  be  the  affair  alluded  to  by  Toplady  7th  in  '  London'  (Sermon  Register). 
in    scurrilous     language.       Wesley    un-  *  See  Green's  Bibliography,  No.  191. 

doubtedly  had  the  case  in  his  mind  when  A    collection    of    original   and   adapted 

he  wrote  to   Mrs.  Sarah  Ryan  ( Works,  pamphlets  containing  arguments  against 

vol.    xii.    p.     218)     from     London     on  various  false  doctrines  at  this  time  widely 

Nov.  30.  prevalent.     See   also   Tyerman,   vol.    ii. 

2  On  Dec.  I  he  wrote  to  Walter  Sellon  p.  319  :  '  My  design  is  not  to  reclaim, 

{Works,  vol.  xiii.  p.  43).  but  to  preserve.' 


246  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [Dec.  1767 

all  those  who  are  under  my  care,  but  chiefly  of  the  young 
preachers.1 

Sun.  18. —  I  had  an  opportunity  (which  I  had  long  desired) 

of  spending  an  hour  or  two  with  the  Rev.  Mr. .     I  would 

have  appointed  a  time  for  our  meeting  weekly,  but  he  declined 
it — why  I  cannot  tell.2 

Fri.  23. — John  Nelson  wrote  me  a  letter,  part  of  which  I  have 
subjoined  : 

We  have  had  four  triumphant  deaths  lately  of  three  men  and  one 
woman.  The  woman  was  Hannah  Richardson,  of  Briestfield.3  When 
Enoch  Williams  preached  there  she  was  the  bitterest  persecutor  in  the 
town,  and  vowed,  if  ever  he  preached  there  again,  she  would  help  to 
stone  him  to  death ;  but  he  never  went  to  try.  The  only  one  of  '  this 
way  '  in  the  town  was  Ruth  Blacker.  Against  her  she  was  violently 
enraged  till  Ruth  went  to  her  house,  reasoned  the  case,  and  at  length 
persuaded  her  to  go  to  Uewsbury  to  hear  Mr.  Charles  Wesley.  That 
day  God  begot  her  by  His  word,  so  that  she  could  never  rest  till  she 
found  Christ  in  her  own  heart ;  and  for  two  years  she  has  been  a  steady 
follower  of  Him.  By  her  zeal  and  circumspect  walking  many  have  been 
since  stirred  up  to  seek  the  Lord.  As  soon  as  she  was  taken  ill  she 
began  to  praise  God  more  than  ever  for  the  work  He  had  wrought  in 
her  soul.  She  said  :  '  At  first  I  thought  I  had  no  will,  and  that  God's 
love  was  all  that  was  in  my  heart.  But  when  my  little  child  gave 
a  sudden  shriek  I  found  my  heart  was  not  free,  and  it  damped  the  love 
of  God  in  my  soul  for  two  hours.  But  the  Lord  is  come  again,  and  now 
I  am  fully  assured  He  does  take  up  all  the  room  in  my  heart.  He  has 
sanctified  me  throughout,  body,  soul,  and  spirit.  I  am  a  witness  for 
Jesus  Christ  that  He  is  a  greater  Saviour  than  Adam  was  a  sinner.  Oh 
watch  and  pray,  and  ye  shall  not  be  overcome  in  the  hour  of  temptation  ! 
Keep  close  to  your  meetings,  and  the  Lord  will  meet  you.  If  you  neglect 
these,  or  private  prayer,  you  will  become  barren  in  your  own  souls,  and 
the  god  of  this  world  will  get  an  advantage  over  you.  But  if  you  keep 
close  to  God  and  one  another  you  will  find  Jesus  a  Saviour  to  the  utter- 
most, as  I,  the  most  unworthy  of  mankind,  do.'  For  some  time  before 
she  died  her  prayer  was  turned  into  praise.     All  her  prayer  then  was, 


1  On  Dec.  14  he  again  wrote  to  Mrs.  '*  This  was  not  the  person  of  that  name 

Ryan  (  Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  219).  so  often  mentioned  by  Charles  Wesley, 

■  During  his  retirement  in  Lewishnin  and  in   whose   memory  he  composed  a 

he  fulfilled  London  appointments.     For  hymn.     In  Kyley  Robinson's  Dewsbury, 

instance,  on  the  25th  and  26th,  according  pp.  32,   34,  &c,  are  interesting  details 

to  the  Sermon  Register,  he  preached  at  respecting    the    earliest    Methodists     at 

the  Foundery.  Briestfield. 


Jan.  1758  1 


In  London  247 


'Thy  will  be  done.'  We  have  one  by  us  that  we  think  will  hardly  live 
till  to-morrow,  who  is  above  seventy,  and  is  as  a  shock  of  corn  full  ripe, 
crying  out,  '  Come,  Lord  Jesus  ! ' 

In  the  Christmas  week  I  rode  down  to  Bristol,  where, 
Sunday,  Jan.  i,  1758,  we  began  the  year  with  the  great  con- 
gregation at  four,  rejoicing  and  praising  God.1 

Tues.  3. — At  the  request  of  several  of  my  friends,  I  wrote  A 
Letter  to  a  Gentleman  of  Bristol-  in  order  to  guard  them  from 
seeking  salvation  by  works  on  one  hand,  and  Antinomianism  on 
the  other.  From  those  who  lean  to  either  extreme  I  shall  have 
no  thanks  ;  but  '  wisdom  is  justified  of  her  children.' 

Wed.  4. — I  rode  to  Kingswood,  and  rejoiced  over  the  school, 
which  is  at  length  what  I  have  so  long  wished  it  to  be — a 
blessing  to  all  that  are  therein  and  an  honour  to  the  whole  body 
of  Methodists. 

Mon.  9. — I  began  a  letter  to  Mr.  Towgood,  author  of  The 
Dissenting  Gentleman's  Reasons — 1  think  the  most  saucy  and 
virulent  satire  on  the  Church  of  England  that  ever  my  eyes 
beheld.3  How  much  rather  would  I  write  practically  than 
controversially  !  But  even  this  talent  I  dare  not  bury  in 
the  earth.4 

Fri.  13. — Having  ended  my  business  at  Bristol,  I  rode  to 
Newbury,  and  the  next  day  to  London.  Now,  if  it  be  the  will 
of  God,  I  should  be  glad  of  a  little  rest ;  if  not,  let  me  rejoice  to 
be  without  it.-' 

Tues.  17. — I  preached  at  Wandsworth.  A  gentleman,  come 
from  America,  has  again  opened  a  door  in  this  desolate  place. 
In  the  morning  I  preached  in  Mr.  Gilbert's  house.6     Two  negro 


1  The  Sermon  Register  shows  that  he  16th,  the  same  day  writing  one  of  his 

preached  also  at  Kingswood.  terse,  peremptory  letters  to  Mr.  Merry- 

'-'  There  is  nothing  in  the  letter  that  weather,    of    Yarm    ( Works,    vol.    xii. 

would  lead  to  this  gentleman's  identifica-  p.  269). 

tion  (  Works,  vol.  x.  pp.  306-12  ;  Green's  6  Nathaniel  Gilbert,  a  descendant  of 

Bibliography,  No.  184).  Sir    Humphrey   Gilbert,    the   illustrious 

'  Dr.    Stoughton    (History,    vol.     vi.  English    navigator,    and   half-brother  of 

p.  439)  says  that,  to  the  end  of  the  century,  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  was  the  pioneer  of 

this  book  took  the  lead  in  defending  the  Methodism  in  the  West  Indies.     A  man 

principles  of  Nonconformity.  of  education  and  estate,  he  was  for  some 

'  See  also  above,  p.  1 14.  years  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Assembly 

'  On  the  10th  he  preached  in  Bristol,  in  Antigua.    His  brother  Francis,  through 

and  on  the  15th  in  London  ;  also  on  the  gaiety  and  misfortune,   was  reduced   to 


248  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Feb  1758. 


servants  of  his  and  a  mulatto  appear  to  be  much  awakened. 
Shall  not  His  saving  health  be  made  known  to  all  nations  ? 

Sat.  28. ! — I  was  inquiring  of  William  Hurd  who  discharged 
him  from  the  army,  and  he  might  fairly  say  God  discharged 
him,  his  officers  being  determined  not  to  do  it.  Nevertheless, 
he  stood  among  the  men  whom  they  had  picked  out  for  that 
purpose,  and  when  he  came  in  his  turn  his  discharge  was  written, 
and  no  man  gainsayed. 

Sun.  29. — We  had  an  uncommon  blessing  at  West  Street, 
and  a  still  greater  at  Spitalfields.  Some  could  not  refrain  from 
crying  aloud  to  God  ;  and  He  did  not  cast  out  their  prayers. 
Many  thanksgivings  have  since  been  offered  to  God  for  the 
blessings  of  that  hour. 

Feb.  I,  Wed. — I  talked  with  a  gentlewoman  who  had  been  a 
mighty  good  Christian  for  near  seventy  years,2  but  she  now 
found  herself  out,  and  began  to  cry  with  many  tears  to  the 
Friend  of  sinners  for  pardoning  mercy. 

Fri.  3. — Mr.  Parker  (last  year  mayor  of  Bedford)  preached 
at  the  Foundery.3  A  more  artless  preacher  I  never  heard,  but 
not  destitute  of  pathos.  I  doubt  not  he  may  be  of  much  use 
among  honest,  simple-hearted  people.4 

Sun.  12. — At  the  request  of  the  vicar,  Mr.  J.,5  I  rode  over  to 
Uxbridge.     I  preached  for  him,  both  morning  and  afternoon, 


poverty.       He    sought    concealment    in  vicar  of  Madeley  in  1864.   See  Arm.  Mag. 

England,  where  he  came  under  the  in-  1780,  p.  387.  and   1783,   pp.   329,   330; 

fluence   of  Vincent    Perronet   first,   and  W.M.   Mag.    1854,    p.    58  ;    Tyerman's 

afterwards  of  Wesley,  whose  society  he  Life  of  Wesley,  vol.  ii.  pp.  297-302. 

joined.     He  sent  his  brother  Nathaniel  '  On   Jan.  20    and    27,    he  wrote   to 

Wesley's  Appeal  to  Men  of  Reason  and  Sarah  Ryan  (  Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  220). 

Religion,   which  altered   his  opinion  of  -  This,  probably,  was  at  West  Street, 

Wesley.       After    two  years  Francis  re-  where  he  was   preaching,  according   to 

turned    to    Antigua.      He   invited  John  the  Sermon  Register. 

Fletcher  to  accompany  him  as  missionary  ■  Sec   above,    p.    201.      On  the   nth 

to  the  Africans,  but  he  declined,  doubting  Wesley  preached  at  Snowsfields. 

his  fitness  for  such  work.     Nathaniel  Gil-  4  Wesley  himself  was  preaching  at  the 

bert  himself  became  an  evangelist.     His  '  Bull-and- Mouth  '  (see  Sermon  Register), 

brother    joined    him.      Francis    Gilbert  On  Feb.  9,  from  Lewisham,  he  wrote  to 

returned  to  England  and  became,  with  Miss  Furly  {Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  202),  and 

Mary  Fletcher  and  George  Perks  (great-  on  Feb.  10  to  Mrs.  Ryan  (ibid.  p.  221). 

grandfather  of  Sir  Robert  Perks,  Bart.,  5  We  are  informed   by  the  Rev.  G.  C. 

see  W.M.  Mag.  1906,  p.  94),  a  member  of  Battiscombe,    vicar    of   Uxbridge,    that 

the  class  led  by  the  vicar  of  Madeley.      A  Richard    Mills    was    vicar    in   1758,  and 

great-grandson  of  Nathaniel  Gilbert  was  Edward  Jennings  churchwarden. 


Feb.  1788. 


In  Lonaon  249 


to  a  large  and  serious  congregation.  How  uncommon  a  provi- 
dence is  this  !  The  gospel  was  preached  in  the  church  at  Hayes.1 
Several  of  the  parishioners  ran  from  it  and  took  pews  at  Hilling- 
don.  It  followed  them  into  Hillingdon  church,  where  I  preached 
twice  in  one  day.  Some  of  them  went  to  Uxbridge.  And  now 
it  is  come  to  torment  them  at  Uxbridge  also. 

Wed.  15. — I  read  over  the  Memoirs  of  the  House  oj  Branden- 
burg? Quanta  de  spe  decidi  ! 3  It  is  hard  to  determine,  from  his 
writing,  whether  the  author  be  a  Mahometan  or  a  Christian.  I 
suppose  he  is  as  near  one  as  the  other. 

On  Friday  the  17th,  the  Public  Fast,  I  preached  at  West 
Street  in  the  morning,  at  Spitalfields  in  the  afternoon,  and  Bull- 
and-Mouth  in  the  evening,4  everywhere  to  a  crowded  audience. 
Indeed,  ever)-  place  of  worship  throughout  the  city  was 
extremely  crowded  all  the  day  long.  Surely  all  the  prayers 
which  have  been  offered  up  this  day  will  not  fall  to  the  ground. 

Man.  20. — I  rode  through  much  rain  to  Maldon,  in  Essex.' 
Their  new  preaching-house  is  large,  but  it  would  in  no  wise  contain 
the  congregation  which  flocked  together  in  the  evening.  For  a 
time  there  was  much  persecution  here,  but  all  is  now  calm  and 
quiet,  and  probably  good  will  be  done  if  those  who  now  run  well 
do  not  draw  back  to  perdition.  We  had  a  large  congregation  at 
five  in  the  morning,  and  more  than  we  had  room  for  in  the  even- 
ing. Fair  blossoms !  But  which  of  these  will  bring  forth  fruit  ? 
O  Lord,  Thou  knowest ! 

Wed.  22. — It  rained  without  ceasing  till  we  came  to  a  small 
inn,  nineteen  miles  from  Maldon.  Here  we  dried  our  clothes. 
Soon  after  the  rain  ceased,  and  we  had  a  pleasant  ride  to 
London.6 


1  Sec   the   Sermon    Register   for    the  been  kept  solely  to  guard  against  the  un- 

texts     from     which      he      preached     at  conscious  selection   of  sermons    already 

Uxbridge.  used  in  places  visited. 

■  See  W.H.S.  vol.  iv.  p.  no.  s  In  the  face  of  opposition  Methodism 

1  Terence,  Heaut.  II.  iii.  9.     Literally,  here  was  introduced  by  Mrs.  Denny,  who 

'  From  how  high  an  expectation  have  I  died  a  few  months  after  the  place  was 

fallen  down  !'  (W.H.S.  vol.  v.  p.  31).  opened   (IV.M.    Mag,    1843,    p.    1033). 

1  None  of  these  sermons  are  recorded  From    Maldon  he   wrote  to  Mrs.  Ryan 

in  the  Sermon  Register,  we  may  surmise  (  Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  222). 
because  they  were  special  for  the  day  and  '  On  Saturday,  Feb.  25,  he  preached 

in  no  danger  of  repetition   on  a  future  at  Snowsfields,  and  on  Sunday  the  26th 

occasion.      The  Register  seems  to  have  in  London,  probably  at  the  Foundery. 


250  John    Wesley  s  Journal  treb.  nw. 

[T/iur.    23. ' — R West,   a   serious  woman,  the    wife    of 

Joseph  West,  a  weaver,  living  in  Hunt  Street,  Spitalfields  (both 
of  whom  I  had  known  for  many  years),  came  and  told  me  a 
strange  story  concerning  her  child,  desiring  me  to  go  and  pray 
with  her.  Being  full  of  business,  I  could  not  spare  time  myself ; 
but  I  desired  two  of  the  preachers,  John  Haime  and  Joseph 
Manners,  to  go  and  inquire  into  the  case,  and  then  proceed 
as  they  should  find  occasion.  They  found  her  exceedingly 
tormented  of  the  devil,  and  in  a  manner  very  uncommon. 
Words  came  from  her  mouth,  without  any  motion  of  her  lips. 
She  was  convulsed  to  a  strange  degree,  and  appeared  to  be 
in  the  sharpest  agonies,  both  of  body  and  mind.  Many  other 
circumstances  there  were,  which  could  be  no  way  accounted 
for  but  by  diabolical  agency.  After  some  time  spent  in  prayer 
she  was  much  relieved  ;  but  the  next  day  she  was  worse  than 
ever.  They  again  wrestled  with  God  in  prayer,  and  she  was 
entirely  delivered. 

[Sat.  25. —  I  was  much  importuned  to  go  to  her,  which  I  did 
about  eleven  o'clock.  She  lay  without  motion,  and  it  seemed 
without  sense.  1  desired  we  might  all  join  in  prayer,  and  soon 
after  I  began  to  pray  she  began  to  sing.  She  sung  five  or  six 
times,  sometimes  two  or  three,  sometimes  seven  or  eight  stanzas 
at  once.  The  lines  were  each  of  eight  syllables :  only  once, 
when  she  was  triumphing  over  the  devil,  she  suddenly  changed 
both  the  tune  and  the  measure.  The  matter  was  good  :  it  was 
partly  prayer,  but  chiefly  praise  and  exhortation.  The  verse 
not  bad,  often  better  than  most  men  of  learning  could  speak 
extempore.  She  intermixed  hallelujahs,  sung  in  a  pleasing 
tone,  much  like  the  general  chorus  of  an  anthem.  While  she 
sung  she  appeared  to  be  wholly  insensible  of  everything  in  this 
world.  After  half  an  hour  she  opened  her  eyes.  I  then  asked, 
'Do  you  know  me?'  'Yes,  sir.'  'Is  it  inconvenient  for  so 
many  persons  to  be  present  ?  '  '  No.'  '  Had  the  devil  possession 
of  your  body  a  day  or  two  since  ? '  '  Yes,  and  of  my  soul  too.' 
'  When  did  he  depart  from  you  ?  '  '  Yesterday.'  '  Will  he  trouble 
you  again?'    'No,  never  more.'    'Do  you  think,  then,  you  shall 


'  The  following  account  is  a  fragment  tive,  and  also  another  given  above, 
of  another  version  of  the  Journal  in  the  pp.  148-9,  were  discovered  among  Wes- 
handwriting    of    Wesley.      This    narra-       ley  letters  in  the  Colman  Collection. 


Feb.  17M.] 


A  Strange  Story  251 


die  soon  ?  '  '  I  do  not  know.'  '  Do  you  desire  it  ?  '  '  No  ;  I  de- 
sire nothing  :  I  have  no  will  but  God's.'  '  Do  you  feel  nothing 
in  you  but  the  love  of  God  ? '  '  No,  nothing  but  love.'  '  Are 
you  always  happy  ?  '  '  Oh  yes.'  '  Shall  you  never  sin  more  ?  ' 
'  Not  if  1  watch  and  pray.'  '  Do  you  fear  nothing?  '  '  No,  no. 
1  cannot  fear.'  '  Have  you  been  in  heaven  ?  '  '  Yes,  and  in 
hell  too.  When  I  sing  I  am  in  heaven.  I  am  with  angels  and 
archangels  before  the  throne  of  God.'  '  Has  He  shown  you 
things  to  come  ?  '  '  Yes,  He  has.'  '  Can  you  tell  the  things  that 
you  saw  in  heaven  ? '  '  No  ;  they  are  too  great  to  be  told.' 
1  Can  you  tell  us  those  things  that  are  to  come  ? '  'I  must  not ; 
no  one  could  bear  to  hear  them.'  '  Will  the  troubles  that  are 
coming  be  in  part  of  the  kingdom  or  all  of  it  ? '  '  They  will  be 
over  all  England.'  '  Will  they  come  soon  ?'  'A  part  of  them 
will.'  '  But  will  not  the  righteous  escape?  '  '  If  they  put  their 
trust  in  God.'  '  What  will  be  the  end  of  all  these  things  ? ' 
'  Praise  to  God.' 

[A  bystander  asked,  '  Are  not  you  troubled  when  you  think 
of  these  things  ?  '  She  said,  '  No,  I  am  not  troubled,  because 
I  know  whatever  God  does  is  good.'  '  Nay,  but  our  Saviour 
wept  over  Jerusalem.'  '  Yes  ;  He  was  grieved  for  the  hardness 
of  men's  hearts.  And  so  am  I  ;  but  I  am  not  sorry  that  troubles 
will  come.  For  God  would  not  let  them  come  if  they  were  not 
good.' 

[In  the  afternoon  I  talked  with  her  again.  '  When  did  you 
know  your  sins  were  forgiven  ? '  '  Yesterday,  between  three 
and  four  in  the  afternoon,  while  Mr.  Manners  was  at  prayer.' 
1  When  was  you  so  filled  with  the  love  of  God  ?  '  '  About  eight  in 
the  evening.  I  was  then  taken  away  by  the  angels  and  carried 
where  I  saw  a  great  lake  of  fire,  and  I  saw  abundance  of  people 
chained  down  in  it,  and  I  heard  their  groans.  Then  they  took 
me  into  heaven  ;  and  I  saw  all  the  holy  angels  round  the  throne 
of  God.  And  I  heard  them  all  singing  praise  to  God  ;  and 
I  sung  with  them.  And  I  saw  God.  I  did  not  see  Him  like 
a  man,  but  as  a  glorious  brightness.  I  cannot  tell  you  how  it 
was:  but  it  was  three  and  one.  And  Jesus  Christ  told  me 
of  the  trouble  to  come  ;  but  the  angels  told  me  not  to  reveal 
what  He  said.  I  stayed  there  till  between  two  and  three  in 
the   morning  ;    but    I   am   as  in    heaven    still.'     '  Do    not    these 


252  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Feb.  1758. 

things  make  you  proud  ? '  '  No,  I  cannot  be  proud ;  for  it  is 
God,  not  I,  that  does  all.  And  the  angels  are  better  than  me ; 
yet  they  are  not  proud.  I  am  only  afraid  that  people  should 
think  too  much  of  me.'  '  Do  you  feel  no  pride  at  all  ?  '  '  No. 
I  am  in  heaven,  and  there  is  no  pride  in  heaven.'  'What  keeps 
you  humble  ? '     '  The  grace  of  God.' 

[On  Sunday  the  26th,  about  two,  I  went  again.  When 
I  came  in  she  was  quite  senseless,  nor  could  I  discern  any 
motion  of  her  throat  or  breast  or  even  pulse  in  the  temporal 
arteries.  After  a  while  she  broke  out  into  singing  halleluiahs, 
and  then  stanzas,  two  or  more  at  a  time.  They  were,  as  the 
day  before,  chiefly  praise,  but  mixed  with  strong  invitation  to 
sinners.  Some  who  stood  by  were  deeply  affected.  In  about 
three-quarters  of  an  hour  she  came  to  herself.  I  then  said, 
'  We  have  been  returning  thanks  on  your  account'  '  I  know 
you  have.'  '  Who  told  you  so  ?  '  '  God.'  '  Have  you,  then,  been 
in  heaven  again  ?  '  'I  have.'  '  What  did  you  see  there  ?  '  '  Jesus 
Christ  and  God,  surrounded  with  angels.'  'Do  you  see  Him 
always?'  'Yes.'  '  Is  there  never  any  cloud  between  God  and 
your  soul  ?  '     '  No,  never.' 

[One  saying,  '  What  a  wonderful  child  is  this  ! '  she  said 
short,  '  Don't  praise  me  :  praise  God.  If  you  would  praise  God 
more  He  would  bless  you  more.  All  being,  all  power,  all  life, 
all  light  is  from  God.'  '  You  said  a  while  ago  it  would  be 
a  sin  to  reveal  the  troubles  that  are  to  come  to  some  persons. 
May  you  not,  then,  reveal  them  to  some  others?'  'God  will 
reveal  them  to  whom  it  pleases  Him.'  '  Are  you  in  pain  now  ? ' 
'  I  was  ;  but  love  takes  away  pain  :  death  is  swallowed  up  in 
victory.'  •  Do  you  choose  life  or  death  ? '  'I  choose  nothing. 
Let  God  do  as  seemeth  Him  good.'  '  But  do  you  not  ask 
God  to  show  you  whether  you  shall  live  or  die  ? '  '  No,  I  can't. 
Perhaps  it  is  not  good  that  I  should  know.' 

[Abundance  of  people  came  to  see  her  the  following  week, 
who  were  much  divided  in  their  judgement  concerning  her. 
Many  acknowledged  it  must  be  the  work  of  God  ;  others 
were  sure  it  was  all  a  cheat.  On  Saturday,  March  4,  being 
convinced  it  was  not  expedient  for  her  to  be  gazed  at  by  such 
multitudes  of  people,  I  removed  her  to  the  house  of  a  serious 
woman,  where  she  might  have  a  little   privacy.     On   Sunday 


Feb.  ma.1  A  Strange  Story  253 

morning  I  asked,  '  Do  you  see  God  still  ?  '  '  Yes  ;  as  clear  as 
ever.'  '  Do  you  never  find  any  cloud  between  Him  and  you  ? 
«  No,  not  for  a  moment.'  *  Do  you  pray  all  the  time  you  are 
awake  ? '  •  Yes.  I  pray  without  ceasing.'  '  What  do  you 
commonly  dream  of?'  'Till  very  lately  I  did  not  use  to 
dream  at  all.  But  I  have  lately  dreamed  several  times  of 
going  in  a  chariot ;  and  it  went  heavily,  for  it  was  without 
wheels.  But  last  night  I  dreamed  I  saw  a  great  chariot  that 
had  wheels.  And  I  was  taken  up  in  it.  And  God  was 
there.' 

[In  the  afternoon  she  was  removed  to  the  Foundery.  In 
the  evening  I  came  in  while  Mr.  Fletcher  was  talking  to  her. 
The  sum  of  his  questions,  and  her  answers  (in  her  own  words) 
were  as  follows : 

['Whom  did  you  see  when  you  was  in  heaven?'  'God  and  His 
angels  and  glorified  saints.'  '  Did  you  know  any  of  them  ?  '  '  Yes, 
several ;  in  particular,  I  knew  Moses  and  Elias.'  '  How  did  you 
know  them?'  'God  showed  me.  But  I  can't  tell  you  how.'  'Did 
they  take  notice  of  you  ? '  '  No  ;  they  did  not  mind  the  creature  :  they 
were  wholly  taken  up  with  the  Creator.'  '  How  where  they  employed  ? 
What  were  they  doing  ? '  'They  were  singing  praise  to  God.'  'Did 
they  sing  low  or  loud  ? '  '  They  sung  louder  than  anything  I  heard  in 
my  life.'  '  Had  they  any  instruments  of  music  ?'  'They  had  trumpets. 
But  not  like  our  trumpets  in  this  world.'  '  Were  they  glorious  ?  '  '  Yes, 
they  were  like  flaming  fire ;  they  were  a  deal  brighter  than  the  sun,  and 
they  could  see  through  [one]  another.'  'Did  any  of  them  cast  them- 
selves down  upon  the  ground  before  God  ?  '  '  Yes,  the  four-and-twenty 
elders.'  '  Were  there  many  of  the  saints  and  angels  ?  '  '  Oh  yes ;  but 
they  were  all  like  one  family.  All  of  us  that  were  there  were  at  home.' 
'  Was  you  willing  to  stay  there?  '  '  I  should  have  been  very  unwilling 
to  come  back,  hut  that  it  was  God's  will.'  '  Do  you  think  you  shall  sin 
any  more ? '  'I  believe  not ;  I  believe  God  will  keep  me.'  '  Have  you 
one  particular  guardian  angel  ?  '  '  Yes  ;  I  saw  him  by  my  bedside  when 
1  was  at  home.'  '  Did  you  ever  see  the  devil  ?  '  '  Yes,  I  saw  him  last 
night  as  I  lay  in  bed.  But  I  did  not  care  ;  I  did  not  fear  him.  I  knew 
he  could  not  hurt  me.'  '  Do  you  find  any  temptations  ?  '  '  Yes  ;  he 
tempted  me  this  afternoon  not  to  pray  and  not  to  sing.  But  I  did  not 
give  way,  and  I  believe  I  shall  find  that  temptation  no  more.'  'Are  you 
as  happy  when  you  are  singing  our  hymns  as  when  you  sing  in  your 
trance  ?  '  '  No  ;  while  I  sing  these  hymns  I  am  upon  earth  ;  but  while 
I  sing  those  I  am  in  heaven.'] 


254  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [March  1768. 

Mon.  27. — Having  a  sermon  to  write  against  the  Assizes  at 
Bedford,  I  retired  for  a  few  days  to  Lcwisham. 

MARCH  3,  Fri. — I  returned  to  London.1 

Mon,  6. — I  took  horse  about  seven  o'clock.  The  wind  being 
east,  I  was  pleasing  myself  that  we  should  have  it  on  our  back  ; 
but  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour  it  shifted  to  the  north-west,  and 
blew  the  rain  full  in  our  face  ;  and  both  increased,  so  that  when 
we  came  to  Finchley  Common  it  was  hard  work  to  sit  our 
horses.  The  rain  continued  all  the  way  to  Dunstable,  where 
we  exchanged  the  main  road  for  the  fields,  which,  having  been 
just  ploughed,  were  deep  enough.  However,  before  three  we 
came  to  Sundon. 

Hence,  on  Thursday  the  9th  I  rode  to  Bedford,2  and  found 
the  sermon  was  not  to  be  preached  till  Friday.  Had  1  known 
this  in  time,  1  should  never  have  thought  of  preaching  it,  having 
engaged  to  be  at  Epworth  on  Saturday. 

Mr.  [Francis  Okeley]  came  to  me  in  the  evening  and  said  he 
could  not  remain  as  he  was  any  longer  3 ;  that  he  had  no  rest  in 
his  spirit  while  he  was  thus  halting  between  two  ;  and  therefore 
desired  to  go  with  me  without  delay.  I  answered,  if  he  was  so 
resolved  he  was  welcome  to  set  out  with  me  for  Epworth  the 
next  day.  He  said  he  would.  We  spent  some  time  in  prayer, 
and  parted  for  the  present. 

Fri.  10. — The  congregation  at  St.  Paul's  was  very  large  and 
very  attentive.  The  Judge,4  immediately  after  sermon,  sent 
me  an  invitation  to  dine  with  him  ;  but,  having  no  time,  I  was 
obliged  to  send  my  excuse,  and  set  out  between  one  and  two. 


1  And  also  preached  at  the  Bull-and-  a  quasi-union,  or  working  understanding, 

Mouth.  might  have  been  brought  about  between 

*  At   an   earlier   date   he  would  have  English  Moravianism  and  the  Anglican 

preached     every    day     during     such     a  Church.  But  Sherlock, Bishop  of  London, 

journey ;    but    since    his    severe    illness  refused  Okeley  ordination, 

he  was  often   compelled  to  rest.     And  '  Sir  Edward  Clive.     The  sermon  was 

he  prudently  husbanded  his  strength  for  published   at   the   request  of    the    High 

the  '  Great  Assize  '  sermon.  Sheriff,   William   Cole  (Tyerman's    Life 

3  Of  Bedford.      See  Charles  Wesley's  and   Times   of  Wesley,  vol.  ii.  p.   300). 

Journal,  July   10,    1739.   &c.  ;   Memoirs  The  text  is  "  We  shall  all  stand  before 

of  Hutlon,  p.   240.     He  figured  in   the  the    judgement-seat    of    Christ '    (Rom. 

somewhat  intricate  negotiations  between  xiv.    10).     It    is    No.  xv.  in  the   '  Fifty- 

Zinzendorf   and    Archbishop    Potter   by  three  Sermons.'     Its  title  is,  '  The  Great 

which  at  one  time  it  was  thought  that  Assize.'     See  below,  p.  403. 


March  1768.]  A  Northern  Journey  255 


The  north-east  wind  was  piercing  cold,  and,  blowing  exactly  in 
our  face,  soon  brought  a  heavy  shower  of  snow,  then  of  sleet, 
and  afterwards  of  hail.  However,  we  reached  Stilton  at  seven, 
about  thirty  miles  from  Bedford. 

Rest  was  now  the  more  sweet  because  both  our  horses 
were  lame.  However,  resolving  to  reach  Epworth  at  the  time 
appointed,  I  set  out  in  a  post-chaise  between  four  and  five 
in  the  morning ;  but  the  frost  made  it  so  bad  driving  that 
my  companion  came  with  the  lame  horses  into  Stamford  as 
soon  as  me.  The  next  stage  I  went  on  horseback  ;  but  I  was 
then  obliged  to  leave  my  mare  and  take  another  post-chaise. 
I  came  to  Bawtry  about  six.  Some  from  Epworth  had  come 
to  meet  me,  but  were  gone  half  an  hour  before  I  came.  I  knew 
no  chaise  could  go  the  rest  of  the  road,  so  it  remained  only  to 
hire  horses  and  a  guide.  We  set  out  about  seven,  but  I  soon 
found  my  guide  knew  no  more  of  the  way  than  myself.  How- 
ever, we  got  pretty  well  to  Idlestop,  about  four  miles  from 
Bawtry,  where  we  had  just  light  to  discern  the  river  at  our 
side  and  the  country  covered  with  water.  I  had  heard  that  one 
Richard  Wright  lived  thereabouts,  who  knew  the  road  over  the 
moor  perfectly  well.  Hearing  one  speak  (for  we  could  not  see 
him),  I  called,  'Who  is  there  ?  '  He  answered,  '  Richard  Wright.' 
I  soon  agreed  with  him,  and  he  quickly  mounted  his  horse  and 
rode  boldly  forward.  The  north-east  wind  blew  full  in  our  face, 
and  I  heard  them  say,  '  It  is  very  cold ! '  But  neither  my  face, 
nor  hands,  nor  feet  were  cold,  till  between  nine  and  ten  we  came 
to  Epworth.  After  travelling  more  than  ninety  miles,  I  was 
little  more  tired  than  when  I  rose  in  the  morning. 

Sun.  12. — I  was  much  comforted  at  church,  both  morning  and 
afternoon,  by  the  serious  behaviour  of  the  whole  congregation — 
so  different  from  what  it  was  formerly.  After  evening  service 
I  took  my  stand  in  the  market-place,  with  a  multitude  of  people 
from  all  parts.  Toward  the  end  of  the  sermon  the  rain  was 
heavy,  but  it  neither  lessened  nor  disturbed  the  congregation. 

Mon.  13. — 1  preached  in  the  shell  of  the  new  house,  and  then 

set  out  for  York.     The  banks  over  which  we  crept  along  were 

ready  to  swallow  up  man  and  beast.     However,  we  came  safe 

to  York  in  the  afternoon.1     After  settling  the  little  affairs,  on 

1  Where  he  preached. 


256  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [March  nes. 

Wednesday  the  15th  I  rode  to  Leeds,  where,  in  the  evening, 
a  multitude  of  people  were  present.  I  never  before  saw  things 
in  so  good  order  here,  and  took  knowledge  the  assistant  had 
not  been  idle. 

I  was  apprehensive,  having  been  at  an  uncommon  expense, 
of  being  a  little  straitened  for  money  ;  but,  after  preaching,  one 
with  whom  1  had  never  exchanged  a  word  put  a  letter  into  my 
hand,  in  which  was  a  bill  for  ten  pounds.  Is  not  '  the  earth  the 
Lord's,  and  the  fullness  thereof? 

Thur.  16. — I  rode  through  heavy  rain  to  Manchester.  I 
was  scarce  set  down,  when  Mr.  [Francis  Okeley]  came  from 
Bedford.1  If  he  comes  sincerely,  (as  I  believe),  God  will  bless 
him  ;  but  if  not,  ego  in  porlu  navigo.2  He  can  find  out  nothing 
with  regard  to  me  ;  I  have  no  secrets. 

Fri.  17. — In  riding  from  Manchester  to  Bolton  I  read  The 
Life  of  Theodore,  King  of  Corsica  :  a  great  man,  both  as  a 
general  and  as  a  prince  ;  and  one  who,  if  he  had  not  been 
sacrificed  to  the  French,  might  have  made  a  shining  figure  in 
history. 

Sat.  18. — We  rode  to  Liverpool.3 

Thur.  23. — I  walked  over  to  Mr.  E.'s,  a  gentleman  who  had 
little  thought  of  God  till  his  favourite  child  lay  at  the  point  of 
death.  It  then  came  into  his  mind  to  pray  for  his  life.  He  did 
so,  and  the  child  recovered.  This  struck  him  to  the  heart,  and 
he  rested  no  more  till  his  own  soul  was  healed. 

I  never  saw  the  house  so  crowded  as  it  was  on  Easter  Day, 
March  26,  especially  with  rich  and  genteel  people,  whom  I  did 
not  at  all  spare.  They  are  now  warned  to  flee  from  the  wrath 
to  come.     God  grant  they  may  remember  the  warning  ! 

Tues.  28. — We  went  on  board,  and  set  sail  for  Dublin.  The 
wind  was  fair,  and  the  day  extremely  fine.  Seven  or  eight 
miles  from  the  town  a  small  boat  overtook  us,  which  brought 
me  letters  from  London.     Some  of  these  earnestly  pressed  me 


1  For     Okeley's      letter      describing  2  '  I  ride  [safe]  in  harbour.' 

Wesley's    preaching  in    Liverpool,    the  3  Okeley  says :    '  During  our  stay   at 

unfinished  room,  a  dinner  '  at  the  house  Liverpool,  he  [Wesley]  preached  morning 

of  one   Mr.    Newton,'    afterwards  John  and     evening,    as     usual,     to    crowded 

Newton    of    Olney,     see     W.M.    Mag.  auditories,  consisting  of  all  sorts,  especi- 

1863,   p.    1101.  ally  in  the  evening  at  seven  o'clock. ' 


March  1758.]  Sailing  for  Dublin  257 


to  return  to  London,  or,  however,  not  to  go  to  Ireland.  I  con- 
sulted my  friends,  and,  just  as  we  began  our  little  debate,  the 
wind,  which  till  then  was  fair  and  small,  turned  from  east  to 
west,  and  blew  harder  and  harder.  But  the  point  was  soon 
decided.  For,  upon  inquiry,  we  found  the  boat  was  gone  back, 
and  no  other  was  to  be  had.  Presently  after  the  wind  returned 
to  the  east,  and  we  saw  the  hand  of  God. 

The  Liverpool  boat  went  away  in  such  haste  that  it  left  a 
young  man,  James  Glassbrook,  behind  ;  so  we  were  five  in  all. 
We  had  seven  more  cabin  passengers,  and  many  common  ones. 
So  good-natured  a  company  I  never  met  with  in  a  ship  before. 
The  sea  was  as  smooth  as  glass,  the  sun  shone  without  a  cloud, 
and  the  wind  was  small  and  quite  fair.  So  we  glided  on  till, 
about  nine,  I  went  to  prayers  with  them,  and  then  quietly 
lay  down. 

Wed.  29. — We  were  even  with  the  great  Welsh  mountain, 
Penmaenmawr,1  at  five  in  the  morning.  But  it  then  fell  calm,  so 
that  we  were  scarce  abreast  of  Holyhead  in  the  evening.  This 
gave  us  time  to  speak  to  all  our  fellow  passengers.  And  some 
fruit  quickly  appeared  ;  for  no  oath,  no  immodest  or  passionate 
word,  was  any  more  heard  in  the  ship  while  we  were  on 
board.2 

T/iur.  30. — Having  no  wind  still,  I  desired  our  brethren  to 
come  upon  the  quarter-deck ;  where  we  no  sooner  began 
singing  a  hymn  than  both  passengers  and  sailors  gladly 
assembled.  The  wind  sprung  up  almost  as  soon  as  I  began, 
and  about  nine  the  next  day  we  entered  Dublin  Bay,  after  so 
smooth  and  pleasant  a  passage  as  the  captain  declared  he  had 
not  had  at  that  time  of  year  for  forty  years.3 

Considering  the  shortness  of  the  warning,  we  had  a  large 


1  The  question  has  been  raised  whether  *  Okeley  accompanied  him,  and  in  a 

Wesley  is  not  here  mistaking  the  Great  letter  (W.M.  Mag.  1863,  p.   1 103)    de- 

Orme's  Head,  which  on  such  a  voyage  scribes   the  voyage,  Wesley's    preaching 

would    be    visible,    for    Penmaenmawr,  on  the  quarter-deck,  in  Dublin  his  house- 

which  he  knew  from  the  road,  but  which  to-house  visiting  with  Wesley,  and  the 

from  the  sea  at  that  date  and  hour  would  '  agreeable   and    pretty  people  '  he  thus 

not  be  visible.     Unless  we  knew  the  con-  met. 

dition  of  wind,  tide,  and  atmosphere  at  3  On  Friday  the  31st  he  preached  in 

the  time  it  would  be  impossible  to  ex-  Dublin  ;  also  on  April  2,  4,  6,  8,  10,  14, 

press  a  definite  opinion.  17,  20,  22,  and  24. 

VOL.    IV  16 


258  John   Wesley s  Journal  Aprui768. 


congregation  in  the  evening ;  but  a  very  small  one  in  the 
morning,  APRIL  1.  At  this  I  did  not  wonder  when  I  was 
informed  that  the  preaching  at  five  had  been  discontinued  for 
near  a  year  and  a  half.  At  eight  likewise,  Sunday  the  2nd, 
the  congregation  was  small.  I  took  knowledge  that  the  people 
of  Dublin  had  neither  seen  nor  heard  much  of  self-denial  since 
T.  Walsh  left  the  kingdom.1 

All  the  evenings  of  the  following  week  we  had  numerous 
congregations.  Nothing  is  wanting  here  but  rigorous  discipline, 
which  is  more  needful  in  this  than  in  any  other  nation,  the  people 
in  general  being  so  soft  and  delicate  that  the  least  slackness 
utterly  destroys  them. 

Thur.  6. — We  walked  round  the  College,2  and  saw  what  was 
accounted  most  worthy  of  observation.  The  new  front  is 
exceeding  grand,  and  the  whole  square  (about  as  large  as 
Peckwater  in  Christ  Church)  would  be  beautiful  were  not  the 
windows  too  small,  as  every  one  will  see  when  the  present 
fashion  is  out  of  date. 

Fri.  7. — I  preached  in  the  evening  on  Reuben's  character, 
'  unstable  as  water,'  so  applicable  to  most  of  this  nation.  Some 
were  deeply  convinced,  and  resolved  not  to  rest  till  they  were 
established  in  grace. 

Sun.  9. — I  exhorted  the  society  to  follow  the  example  of 
their  English  brethren  by  jointly  renewing  their  covenant  with 
God.  On  Tuesday  evening  I  read  the  letters,  by  one  of  which 
a  poor  backslider,  who  had  been  wandering  near  eleven  years, 
was  cut  to  the  heart  and  determined  to  return  to  Him  from 
whom  he  had  so  deeply  revolted. 

Thur.  13. — I  explained  at  large  the  nature  and  manner  of 
entering  into  covenant  with  God,  and  desired  all  who  were 
purposed  so  to  do  to  set  Friday  apart  for  solemn  fasting  and 
prayer.  Many  did  so,  and  met  both  at  five  in  the  morning,  at 
noon,  and  in  the  evening.3 


1  On  April  4,  from  Dublin,  he  wrote  form  till  1759.    It  was  erected  at  a  cost  of 
to  Mrs.  Ryan  (  Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  222)  ;  over  ^45,000,  the  funds  being  provided 

and  on  April  5   to  Miss  H {Works,  by  the  Irish  Parliament  (W.ff.S.  vol.  v. 

vol.  xii.  p.  227),  the  latter  an  interesting  p.  71). 

discussion  of  Christian  Perfection.  3  On  this  day  he  wrote  to  Miss  Furly, 

2  The  west  facade,  opposite    College  advising  as  to  her  residence  and  health 
Green,  was  not  completed  in  its  present  ( Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  202). 


April  1758.)  In  Dublin  259 


Sun.  16. — I  was  much  grieved  at  St.  Peter's  Church  at  such 
a  sight  as  I  never  saw  in  England,  communicants  as  well  as 
others  behaving  in  a  manner  that  shocked  common  sense  as 
well  as  religion.  Oh  who  has  the  courage  to  speak  plain  to 
these  rich  and  honourable  sinners  !  If  they  perish  in  their, 
iniquity,  will  not  their  blood  be  on  the  watchman's  head  ? 

Mori.  17. — We  met  in  the  evening  to  renew  our  covenant 
with  God.  It  was  a  glorious  season.  I  believe  all  that  were 
present  found  that  God  was  there. 

Tues.  1 8.- — Among  the  letters  I  read  in  public  last  week  was 
one  from  Mr.  Gillies,  giving  an  account  of  a  society  lately 
formed  at  Glasgow  for  promoting  Christian  Knowledge  among 
the  poor,  chiefly  by  distributing  Bibles  among  them  and  other 
religious  books.  I  could  not  then  help  expressing  my  amaze- 
ment that  nothing  of  this  kind  had  been  attempted  in  Ireland, 
and  inquiring  if  it  was  not  high  time  that  such  a  society  should 
be  formed  in  Dublin.  This  morning  Dr.  Tisdale  showed  me  a 
paper  which  the  Archbishop  1  had  just  sent  to  each  of  his  clergy, 
exhorting  them  to  erect  a  society  for  the  distribution  of  books 
among  the  poor.  Thanks  be  to  God  for  this  !  Whether  we  or 
they,  it  is  all  one,  so  God  be  known,  loved,  and  obeyed. 

Thur.  20. — In  the  evening  I  met  all  the  married  men  and 
women  of  the  society.  I  believe  it  was  high  time.  For  many 
of  them  seemed  to  know  very  little  of  relative  duties  :  so  that 
I  brought  strange  things  to  their  ears  when  I  enlarged  on  the 
duties  of  husbands,  and  wives,  and  parents. 

Fri.  21. — I  dined  at  Lady 's.2     We  need  great  grace  to 

converse  with  great  people !  From  which,  therefore  (unless  in 
some  rare  instances),  I  am  glad  to  be  excused.  Horae  fugiunt 
et  imputantur ! 3  Of  these  two  hours  I  can  give  no  good 
account. 

Sun.  23. —  I  was  much  concerned  to  see  two  gentlemen, 
who  were  close  to  me  at  St.  Patrick's  church,  fall  a-talking 
together,  in   the  most   trifling  manner,  immediately  after  they 


1  Dr.  Charles  Cobbe.  verbatim     quotation.      Lawrence    Ford 

2  The  Rev.  H.  J.  Foster  suggests,  but  suggests  that  Wesley  gave  the  proverbial 
without  naming  an  authority,  Lady  Ara-  form  frequently  inscribed  on  sundials  : 
bella  Denny.     See  IV.H.S.  vol.  v.  p.  73.  '  The  hours  are  flying,  and  are  being  put 

"Martial,   Epigr.    v.    20.    13.     Not    a  to  our  account.'    (  W.  H.S.  vol.  v.  p.  47.) 


260  John.    Wesley  s  Journal  tApriirr&s. 

had  received  the  Lord's  Supper.  Indeed,  one  who  sat  by 
could  not  but  reprove  them,  whom  I  seconded  in  strong  terms. 
And  so  far  (at  least)  we  gained  :  they  talked  no  more  till  the 
service  was  ended. 

Mon.  24. — I  left  Dublin  ;  but  our  chaise-horse  tired  before 
we  had  drove  eight  miles.  So  I  went  into  another  chaise, 
and  reached  Kilcock  between  eleven  and  twelve.  We  were 
agreeably  surprised  to  hear  the  maid  of  the  inn  singing  one 
of  our  hymns,  and  to  find  that  her  mistress  had,  the  evening 
before,  been  at  the  preaching  in  Dublin.  This  accounted  for 
the  profound  civility  with  which  all  the  servants  behaved. 
About  one  I  took  horse,  and  rode  on  with  Robert  Swindells  to 
Edenderry.1 

On  the  road  I  read  Mr.  Walker's  Account  of  t/ie  Siege  of 
Londonderry,  and  the  relation  of  that  of  Drogheda,  by  Dr. 
Bernard — a  vain,  childish,  affected  writer.  Sir  Henry  Tich- 
burn's  account  of  this  siege 2  is  wrote  in  a  strong  and  masculine 
manner,  and  is  worthy  to  be  joined  with  Mr.  Walker's3  plain 
and  clear  account  of  that  other  amazing  scene  of  Providence. 

Tues.  25. —  I  read  an  account  of  the  Irish  Rebellion,4  wrote 
by  Dr.  Curry,  a  Papist,  of  Dublin,  who  labours  to  wash  the 
Ethiop  white  by  numberless  falsehoods  and  prevarications. 
But  he  is  treated  according  to  his  merit  by  Mr.  Harris,  in  a 
tract  entitled,  Fiction  Unmasked. 

In  the  evening  I  preached  under  the  castle  wall  to  a  very 
numerous  congregation,  though  some  of  the  Quakers  (so  called) 
had  laboured  much  to  dissuade  their  people  from  coming  ;  and 
one  poor  man,  lately  reclaimed,  by  hearing  our  preachers,  from 
a  course  of  open,  scandalous  sin  they  did  persuade  to  stay  at 
home.  When  he  turns  back  to  his  vomit,  who  shall  answer  for 
his  blood  ? 

Wed.  26. —  I  walked  round  the  poor  remains  of  the  Castle. 

1  Where    he   preached.      Okeley  and  in    Kinsale,  and    raised   a    regiment    in 

Swindells  were  his  travelling  companions  the   defence   of  Irish  Protestantism.     It 

during  the  journey.  was  his  True   Account  of  the    Siege   oj 

*  Sir  Henry  Tichburn  was  governor  of  Londonderry  which  supplied  Macaulay 
Drogheda  during  the  siege,  of  which  he  with  materials  for  his  description  of  the 
wrote  the  history,  as  also  did  Dr.  Her-  famous  siege  {History  of  England, 
nard.  chap.  xii.). 

*  George  Walker  was  rector  of  '  See  above,  vol.  iii.  p.  314 ;  below, 
Donaghmore     when   James   II     landed  p.  399  ;  also  W.H.S.  vol.  iv.  p.  1 11. 


April  1768.1 


In  Ireland  261 


The  situation  is  extremely  fine.  It  stands  on  the  top  of  a 
gently  rising  hill,  commanding  the  prospect  all  four  ways,  and 
having  rows  of  tall  trees  reaching  down  to  the  vale  on  three 
sides,  with  a  grove  covering  it  on  the  north-east.  But  the 
house,  as  well  as  the  gardens  round  about  it,  are  now  utterly 
run  to  ruin.  I  wonder  none  has  rebuilt  it,  unless  there  is  a  curse 
on  the  place  for  the  sins  of  its  former  inhabitants  ! 

Thur.  27. — I  finished  Mr.  Spearman's  Inquiry}  an  in- 
genious, sensible  book  ;  but  I  cannot  at  all  agree  with  his 
scheme.  I  still  think  Mr.  Hutchinson's2  whole  system  is  not 
only  quite  unsupported  by  Scripture,  but  loaded  with  insuper- 
able difficulties.  I  cannot  yet  see  the  possibility  of  any 
motion,  without  so  much  as  a  vacuum  disseminatum?  Is 
it  not  flatly  impossible,  if  all  be  full,  and  all  matter  be 
impenetrable  ?  Much  less  can  I  conceive  how  the  streams  of 
light  and  air  can  move  continually  in  opposite  directions,  and 
that  in  space  absolutely  full,  without  jostling  with  each  other  ! 

In  the  evening  I  preached  at  Portarlington.  Both  this  day 
and  the  next  I  was  much  concerned  for  my  rich,  gay  hearers ; 
and  God  gave  me  such  a  word  for  them  as  I  scarce  ever  had 
before. 

Hence,  at  his  earnest  request,   I   rode  over  to  Mr.  L y,4 

who  said  he  could  not  die  in  peace  till  he  had  seen  me.  For 
some  time  he  had  been  quite  distracted  ;  but  he  spoke  quite 
sensibly  yesterday,  while  Mr.  Swindells  was  there,  saying, 
with  many  tears,  he  had  never  prospered  in  anything  since 
he  used  Mr.  W[esley]  so  ill.  That  night  he  had  sound  and 
refreshing  sleep,  which  he  had  not  had  for  many  weeks  before  ; 
and,  when  we  called,  most  of  what  he  said  was  reasonable  and 
connected.  Perhaps  God  may  put  an  end  to  the  troubles  which 
have  lately  encompassed  him  on  every  side. 

Sat.  29. — I  preached  in  the  market-place  at  Mountmellick 
in    the    evening,  and  at    eight    in    the   morning.      At  eleven  I 


1  An   Inquiry  after    Philosophy   and  *  This,  it  is   suggested,  is  a  technical 

Theology,   by   Robert    Spearman,   Edin-  term,  the  meaning  of  which  is  obvious, 

burgh,  1755.     See  below,  Feb.  13,  1770  ;  It  does  not  seem  to  be  quoted  from  any 

also  W.H.S.  vol.  iv.  p.  m.  author   in   particular.     (IV.ff.S.    vol.  v. 

•  A     System     of    Moral    Philosophy  p.  47-) 

{W.H.S.  vol.  iv.  p.  109).    See  also  above,  1  Apparently  Mr.  Laborde,  of  Close- 

p.  191,  and  below,  p.  280.  land,  who  died  shortly  after. 


262  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [May  1758. 

went  to  church.  Soon  after,  seven  or  eight  troopers  came 
into  the  same  pew.  Several  were  in  the  next  pew,  and  others 
scattered  up  and  down  the  church.  In  the  middle  of  the 
service  a  person  came  in  and  whispered  to  one  of  them  in 
our  pew ;  soon  after  another  person  came  in,  and  whispered 
to  the  corporal.  Several  of  them  then  whispered  together ; 
after  which  four  went  out,  but  quickly  returned  with  many 
swords  and  pistols.  After  whispering  together  again,  they  all 
rose  up  from  all  parts,  and  went  out  of  the  church  in  a  body. 
This  put  the  whole  congregation  in  an  uproar,  and  many 
ran  out  in  all  haste.  Afterwards  the  secret  appeared  to  be 
this :  Three  weeks  ago  a  man  of  the  town  grossly  abused  a 
trooper,  whose  patience  at  length  being  worn  out,  he  gave 
him  a  cut  across  the  head.  A  report  now  came  that  the  man 
was  dead.  On  this  the  mob  gathered  to  seize  the  trooper  ; 
but  the  others  resolved  not  to  give  him  up  to  a  mob,  but  to  the 
peace-officer. 

I  suppose  most  of  the  Protestants  in  the  town  were  present 
at  the  evening  sermon.  Many  Papists  also  stood  in  the  skirts 
of  the  congregation,  though  liable  to  heavy  penance  for  it.  I 
preached  much  longer  than  I  am  accustomed,  finding  it  an 
acceptable  time.  Well  might  Kempis  say,  '  He  rides  easily 
whom  the  grace  of  God  carries.' 

MAY  1,  Mon. — I  strove  to  put  an  end  to  the  bitter  conten- 
tions which  had  wellnigh  torn  the  society  in  pieces.  I  heard 
the  contending  parties  face  to  face,  and  desired  them  to  speak 
at  large.  God  gave  His  blessing  therewith  ;  the  snare  was 
broken,  and  they  were  cordially  reconciled.  Only  one  person 
was  out  of  all  patience,  and  formally  renounced  us  all.  But 
within  an  hour  God  broke  her  heart  also,  and  she  asked  pardon 
with  many  tears.  So  there  is  reason  to  hope  they  will,  for  the 
time  to  come, '  bear  one  another's  burdens.' 

In  the  evening  I  preached  at  Tullamore,  not  only  to  a  large 
number  of  Protestants,  but  to  many  Papists,  and  almost  all  the 
troopers  in  the  town. 

Tues.  2. — I  wrote  a  short  answer  to  Dr.  Free's  weak,  bitter, 
scurrilous  invective  against  the  people  called   Methodists.1     But 


1  Dr.  Free  was  a  native  of  Oxford,  at       of    East    Coker,    Somerset,   lecturer    of 
his  time  forty-seven  years  of  age,  vicar       St.  Mary-at-Hill.  London,  and  of  Nevving- 


M*y  1768.1  fn  Ireland  263 

I  doubt  whether  I  shall  meddle  with  him  any  more  x  ;  he  is  too 
dirty  a  writer  for  me  to  touch. 

Wed.  3. — I  preached  at  four  in  the  afternoon  at  Coolalough, 
and  at  eight  in  the  morning  ;  after  which  I  rode  on  to  Tyrrell's 
Pass.  The  letters  which  I  received  here  were  seasonable  as 
rain  in  drought.  I  had  before  found  much  weariness  ;  but 
God  thereby  gave  a  check  to  my  faintness  of  spirit,  and  enabled 
me  to  '  gird  up  the  loins  of  my  mind.' 

In  the  evening,  the  weather  being  calm  and  mild,  I  preached 
on  the  side  of  a  meadow,  the  people  standing  before  me,  one 
above  another,  on  the  side  of  a  gently  rising  hill.  And  many 
did,  indeed,  at  that  hour,  '  taste  and  see  that  the  Lord  is 
gracious.' 

Fri.  5. — In  the  evening  I  preached  at  Drumcree,  in  the  new 
room,  built  in  the  taste  of  the  country.  The  roof  is  thatch,  the 
walls  mud,  on  which  a  ladder  was  suspended  by  ropes  of  straw. 
Hence  we  rode  to  Rosmead.  The  congregation  here  was  not 
large,  but  deeply  serious.2 

Sun.  7. — I  preached  at  eight  and  at  five.  Afterward  I  was 
desired  to  make  a  collection  for  a  distressed  family.  Mr.  Booker,3 
the  minister  of  the  parish,  willingly  stood  at  the  door  to  receive 
it,  and  encouraged  all  that  went  by  to  be  merciful  after  their 
power. 

Mon.  8. —  I  rode  to  Newry,  and  preached  at  seven  to  a  large 
and  serious  congregation.4 

Tues.  9. — We  rode  by  the  side  of  the  canal,  through  a 
pleasant  vale,  to  Terryhoogan.  The  room,  built  on  purpose 
for  us  here,  is  three  yards  long,  two  and  a  quarter  broad,  and 
six  foot  high.     The  walls,  floor,  and  ceiling  are  mud  ;  and  we 


ton,  Surrey.      He  died   in  distress  and  6th,  Drumcree ;  Sun.  the  7th,  Rosmead. 

penury  in  1791.       He  was    one    of   the  3  Rev.    Moore   Booker.       During  the 

most  prolific  and  scurrilous  of  Wesley's  summer  of  1759  he  embarked  at  Park- 

assailants.     For  a  list  of  his  pamphlets,  gate  in  the  Chester  Trader,  which  foun- 

&c,    see  Green's  Anti- Methodist  Publi-  dered.  and  all  on  board  perished  (Crook - 

cations,    pp.    273-7  ;    see    also    Green's  shank,    Methodism    in    Ireland,    vol.    i. 

Bibliography,  No.  187.  pp.  80-2  ;  see  also  above,  pp.  39  and  177). 

1  But  see  below,  p.  282.  *  The     Sermon     Register    dates    the 

-'  The    Sermon     Register    gives     the  Newry   preaching   Tues.    May  9.     This 

following  appointments  :    Fri.    May    5,  may    be    quite     correct.       He     usually 

Carrickfergus  (this  is  probably  an  error  preached   in   the   early   morning   before 

for    the    15th,    see    below) ;     Sat.    the  leaving. 


264  John   Wesley  s  Journal  rMayms. 

had  a  clean  chaff  bed.  At  seven  I  preached  in  a  neighbouring 
ground,  having  a  rock  behind  me  and  a  large  congregation 
sitting  on  the  grass  before  me.  Thence  we  retired  to  our  hut, 
and  found  it  true — 

Licet  sub  paupere  tecto 
Reges  et  regum  vita  praecurrere  amicos.1 

Wed.  10. —  I  suppose  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  village,  with 
many  others,  were  present  at  five  in  the  morning.  Among 
these  was  a  poor  woman,  brought  to  bed  ten  days  before, 
who  had  walked  four  Irish  miles  (seven  English)  with  her 
child  in  her  arms  to  have  it  baptized  by  me.  Another,  who 
lived  at  Terryhoogan,  had  earnestly  desired  the  same  thing 
if  she  was  delivered  before  I  left  the  country.  She  was 
delivered  two  or  three  hours  before  the  preaching.  So  God 
gave  her  what  she  asked  of  Him. 

In  riding  to  Lisburn  I  read  Mr.  Rollin's  Ancient  History} 
Could  so  masterly  a  writer  make  so  palpable  blunders  !  Or  arc 
they  owing  to  the  translator  ?  I  have  observed  many  as  gross 
as  that  in  the  fourth  volume  :  '  A  revered  old  age  was  the 
fruit   of  Gelon's   wisdom.  .  .   .    He   was   succeeded    by    Hiero, 

his   eldest   brother.       This    young    prince ' How,    if   Gelon 

enjoyed  revered  old  age,  could  his  eldest  brother  be  young 
after  his  death  ? 

Abundance  of  people  attended  the  preaching  in  the  evening 
as  well  as  in  the  morning. 

Fri.  12. — I  preached  about  noon  at  Comber,3  and  then  rode 
on  to  Newtownards.  This  seems  to  have  been  a  place  of 
strength,  large  fragments  of  walls  still  remaining.  I  preached 
at  seven  on  the  Green  to  the  largest  congregation  I  have  seen 


1  '  Under  a  lowly  roof  a  poor  man  may  3  See  Primitive  Wesley  an  Melh.  Mag. 
have  more  real  enjoyment  of  life  than  1823,  p.  333,  for  particulars  of  an  un- 
even monarchs  and  their  friends '  (Hor.  recorded  visit  to  Clonmain.  A  lad, 
Epist.\.f..yi).  Jackson's  free  translation  George  Gainer,  saw  him  preaching  from 
above  gives  the  sense.  a   table — a   man   '  of  venerable   appear- 

-  Charles  Rollin,  The  Ancient  History  ance.'     For  the  story  of  Margaret  David- 

of  the    Egyptians,    Carthaginians,   &c.  son,  of  Comber — poor,  blind,  persecuted, 

First  published  in    13  vols,  in  Paris  in  reputed    mad,    but    one    of    the    Irish 

1731.     First  published  in  English  in  12  Methodist     heroines— see     Crookshank, 

vols,  in  1734.  vol.  i.  pp.  124,  151,  165,  &c. 


May  1758. 


In  Ireland  26* 


since  I  came  into  the  kingdom.     All  were  quietly  attentive,  and, 
when  I  had  done,  went  away  in  deep  silence. 

Sat.  13. — We  went  into  the  church,  the  burial-place  of  Mr. 
Colvin's  father  and  ancestors.  The  choir,  turned  into  a  chapel 
many  years  ago,  is  grand  and  finely  finished  ;  but  as  no  man 
cares  for  it,  since  the  estate  was  sold  it  is  swiftly  running  to  ruin. 
In  the  evening  we  had  a  larger  congregation  than  before. 
I  was  afraid  my  voice  would  not  reach  them  all  ;  but  God 
gave  me  strength,  so  that  I  believe  every  one  present  might 
hear  distinctly. 

Sun.  14.  —  I  preached  in  the  market-house  at  Belfast  about 
one,  and  in  the  court-house  at  Carrickfergus  in  the  evening. 

Mon.  15. —  I  rode  over  the  mountains  to  Larne,1  a  small  sea- 
port ten  miles  north  of  Carrickfergus.  The  sun  shone  bright 
and  exceeding  hot,  and  the  wind  was  pretty  high.  They 
fixed  the  table  just  fronting  the  midday  sun,  and  where  an 
eddy  of  wind  poured  in  continually.  And  it  was  well  they 
did,  for  the  sun  tempered  the  wind  so  that  I  could  bear 
both  better  than  either.  I  suppose  most  of  the  town  were 
present,  rich  and  poor,  and  I  believe  che  word  of  God  did 
not  return  empty. 

In  the  evening  I  preached  at  Carrickfergus  again.  The  old 
Earl  of  Donegal,  one  of  the  richest  peers  in  Ireland,  took  much 
pleasure  here  in  his  stately  house  surrounded  by  large  and 
elegant  gardens.  But  his  only  son  proved  an  idiot,  and  the 
present  heir  regards  them  not.  So  the  roof  of  the  house  is 
fallen  in,  and  the  horses  and  sheep,  which  feed  in  the  gardens, 
make  wild  work  with  the  parterres  and  curious  trees  which  the 
old  lord  so  carefully  planted  ! 2 

Tues.  16. — We  rode  to  Lurgan.  In  the  morning  I  walked 
to  Lough  Neagh,  the  most  beautiful  lake  I  ever  saw.  On  the 
south-east  shore  stands  a  small  mount,  supposed  to  be  raised 
by  the  Danes,  on  the  top  of  which  is  a  kind  of  arbour,  benched 
round  with  turf,  which  might  contain  twenty  or  thirty  people. 

1  He  was  the  guest  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Monjuich  in  1706.     Arthur,  fourth  earl, 

John    Lee,    whose    youngest   daughter,  succeeded  in  1706  and  died  without  (ac- 

Jane  Esther,  was  subsequently  one  of  his  knowledged)   issue    in     1757,   and    was 

correspondents  (IV. H. S.  vol.  viii.  pp.  98,  succeeded  by  his  nephew,  Arthur,   fifth 

168).  earl,  in  the  same  year. 

■  Arthur,    third    earl,    killed    at    Fort 


266  John    Wesley  s  Journal  ;Mayi768. 

This  was  the  hottest  day  I  ever  felt  in  Ireland,  near  as 
hot  as  any  I  remember  in  Georgia.  The  next  morning  I  was 
desired  to  see  the  house  of  an  eminent  scholar  '  near  the  town. 
The  door  into  the  yard  we  found  nailed  up,  but  we  got  in  at 
a  gap  which  was  stopped  with  thorns.  I  took  the  house  at 
first  for  a  very  old  barn,  but  was  assured  he  had  built  it  within 
five  years,  not  indeed  by  any  old,  vulgar  model,  but  purely  to 
his  own  taste.  The  walls  were  part  mud,  part  brick,  part  stone, 
and  part  bones  and  wood.  There  were  four  windows,  but  no 
glass  in  any,  lest  the  pure  air  should  be  kept  out.  The  house 
had  two  stories,  but  no  staircase  and  no  door.  Into  the  upper 
floor  we  went  by  a  ladder  through  one  of  the  windows,  through 
one  of  the  lower  windows  into  the  lower  floor,  which  was  about 
four  foot  high.  This  floor  had  three  rooms — one  three  square, 
the  second  had  five  sides,  the  third  I  know  not  how  many.  I 
give  a  particular  description  of  this  wonderful  edifice  to  illustrate 
that  great  truth,  There  is  no  folly  too  great,  even  for  a  man  of 
sense,  if  he  resolve  to  follow  his  own  imagination  ! 

I  spent  Friday  and  Saturday  at  Newry,  a  town  risen  out  of 
its  ashes  within  these  twenty  years. 

Sun.  21. — I  was  much  pleased  with  the  seriousness  and 
decency  of  the  congregation  at  church,  but  they  were  a  little 
hurried  in  the  middle  of  the  service — a  young  man  dropped 
down  as  dead.  In  a  little  time,  however,  he  came  to  himself, 
and  was  led  out  of  church. 

Mon.  22. — I  rode  through  a  barren,  dreary  country,  and  by  a 
miserable  road,  to  Castleblayney.  The  morning  was  extremely 
hot,  but  we  had  a  cooler  ride  in  the  afternoon  to  Cootehill.  I 
preached  at  seven,  in  an  open  place  near  the  street,  to  a  tolerably 
serious  congregation.  At  six  in  the  morning  there  were  more 
rather  than  fewer,  who  then  seemed  to  feel  as  well  as  hear.  I 
walked  afterward  to  the  German  house,  about  as  large  as  the 
chapel  in  Snowsfields.  They  have  pitched  upon  a  delightful 
situation,  laid  out  a  garden  by  it,  planted  trees  round  the 
ground,  and  every  way  approved  themselves  '  wise  in  their 
generation.'  They  often  put  me  in  mind  of  the  monks  of  old, 
who  had   picked  out  the  plcasantest  spots  in   our   nation  ;  but 


It  is  suggested  that  this  was  probably  Mr.  Cook.     See  below,    p.  374. 


May  1T68.1 


In  Ireland  267 


when  their  time  was  come  God  swept   them  away  in  an  hour 
they  looked  not  for  it. 

In  the  evening  I  preached  at  Dingins,  in  the  county  of 
Cavan,  on  the  very  edge  of  Ulster.  Many  came  from  far,  a  few 
of  whom  have  tasted  that  the  Lord  is  gracious. 

Wed.  24. — I  preached  in  the  morning  at  Granard,  in  the 
barrack-yard.  I  have  rarely  seen  a  congregation  in  a  new  place 
so  much  affected.  About  one  I  preached  at  Edgeworthstown 
to  a  very  genteel  congregation,  extremely  different  from  that 
which  gathered  at  Longford,  in  the  yard  of  the  great  inn — the 
rudest,  surliest,  wildest  people  that  I  have  found  since  I  came 
into  the  kingdom.  However,  they  stood  pretty  quiet  till  some 
pieces  of  turf  were  thrown  among  them  over  the  houses,  and 
when  they  had  recovered  from  the  hurry  it  put  them  into  they 
behaved  decently  till  I  concluded. 

Thur.  25. — I  preached  at  Cleggill  about  one,  and  then  rode 
on  to  Drummersnave.  Wood,  water,  fruitful  land,  and  gently 
rising  hills  contribute  to  make  this  place  a  little  paradise.  Mr. 
Campbell,  the  proprietor  of  the  whole,  resolved  to  make  it  such  ; 
so  he  planted  groves,  laid  out  walks,  formed  the  plan  of  a  new 
town,  with  a  barrack  at  one  end  and  his  own  seat  at  the  other. 
But,  alas  !  death  stepped  in  between,  and  all  his  plan  fell  to  the 
ground.1 

I  lodged  at  the  only  gentleman's  house  in  the  town,  whose 
wife  adorns  the  gospel. 

Sat.  27. — I  rode  through  Jamestown,  once  a  strong  place, 
now  a  heap  of  ruins,  and  through 2  Carrick-on-Shannon  and 
Boyle,  both  enclosed  by  a  pleasant  and  fruitful  country.  Soon 
after  we  entered  the  county  of  Sligo,3  the  best  peopled  that 
I  have  seen  in  the  kingdom.  Eight  villages  we  counted  within 
seven  miles.  The  town  itself,  I  think,  is  little  less  than 
Limerick.     The  country  round  it  is  fertile  and  well  improved, 


'  The  Sermon  Register  adds  Granard  from  the  Castlebar  round.     The  curate 

on  Friday,  May  26.  arrested  the  preacher  and  brought  him 

-  Through  Ballymote,  Collooney,  and  before  the  magistrate.     The  rector,  the 

Ballysodare.  Rev.  Eubel  Ormsby.  rebuked  his  curate, 

3  An  opening  had  been  given  in  Sligo  saying,     '  Andrew,    Andrew,    let    these 

the  year  before  probably  through  one  of  men    alone.     Remember   the   advice   of 

the   Drummersnave  members,  who,   re-  Gamaliel.'     Methodism    from   that    day 

moving   to   Sligo,   invited    the   preacher  has  had  little  opposition  in  Sligo. 


268  John    Wesley  s  Journal  uunenes. 

even  the  mountains,  to  the  very  top.  It  lies  two  miles  from 
the  sea,  having  a  large  harbour,  covered  by  mountains  on  each 
side. 

The  mob  had  been  in  motion  all  the  day  ;  but  their  business 
was  only  with  the  forestallers  of  the  market,  who  had  bought 
up  all  the  corn  far  and  near  to  starve  the  poor,  and  load  a 
Dutch  ship,  which  lay  at  the  quay ;  but  the  mob  brought 
it  all  out  into  the  market,  and  sold  it  for  the  owners  at  the 
common  price.  And  this  they  did  with  all  the  calmness 
and  composure  imaginable,  and  without  striking  or  hurting 
any  one. 

I  preached  in  the  evening,  near  the  main  street,  to  a  small, 
quiet,  serious  company  ;  at  nine,  Sunday  the  28th,  in  the 
market-house,  to  a  numerous  congregation.  But  they  were 
doubled  at  five  in  the  afternoon,  and  God  made  His  word 
quick  and  powerful.  Even  the  rich  and  genteel  part  of  the 
audience  appeared  to  be  deeply  affected.  Oh  for  labourers, 
for  a  few  yvrjaia  reicva,1  desirous  only  to  spend  and  be  spent 
for  their  brethren  ! 

Mon.  29. — I  rode  to  Castlebar. 

JUNE  i,  Thur. — I  went  to  Newport.  I  believe  all  the  Pro- 
testants in  the  town  gladly  attended  the  evening  preaching  ; 
and  few  of  them  were  wanting  at  five  in  the  morning.  How 
white  are  these  fields  to  the  harvest ! 

Fri.  2. — I  rode  to  Hollymount,  and  preached  in  the  church- 
yard. I  then  visited  my  antagonist,  Mr.  Clark,  who  was  lying 
extremely  ill.2 

Sat.  3.  —  I  preached  at  Manulla,  a  village  four  miles  from 
Castlebar.  I  was  surprised  to  find  how  little  the  Irish  Papists 
are  changed  in  a  hundred  years.  Most  of  them  retain  the 
same  bitterness,  yea,  and  thirst  for  blood,  as  ever,  and  would 
as  freely  now  cut  the  throats  of  all  the  Protestants  as  they 
did  in  the  last  century. 

Sun.  4. — As  they  have  the  Lord's  Supper  here  but  four 
times  a  year,  I   administered  it  in  the  evening  to  about  sixty 


1  Phil.  ii.  20;  1   Tim.   i.  2  :  Ti/xoO^  2  See  above,  pp.  171— 3 ;  Crookshank, 

7V7)(n'<f)  t'ikvip  iv  irlffTti;  also  Titus  i.  4  :       Methodism   in    Ireland,  vol.  i.  pp.   Ill, 
'  My  true  child  in  the  faith  '  (R.V.)  1 12. 


June  1758.) 


In  Ireland  269 


persons.  Scarce  one  of  them  went  away  empty.  Many  were 
filled  with  consolation.1 

Tues.  6. — I  set  out  at  four  (the  hour  I  had  appointed)  on 
foot,  the  horse  brought  for  me  having  neither  bridle  nor  saddle. 
After  a  time  one  galloped  after  me  full  speed,  till,  just  as  he 
overtook  me,  horse  and  man  came  down  together.  The  horse's 
knee  spouted  out  blood,  as  if  an  artery  had  been  cut ;  but  on 
a  sudden  the  blood  stopped,  nor  did  he  bleed  any  more  all  the 
way  to  A  ugh  rim.2 

I  found  a  few  here,  and  left  more,  '  striving  to  enter  in  at  the 
strait  gate.' 

Fri.  9. — About  eight  I  preached  at  Ahascragh  to  a  con- 
gregation of  whom  four-fifths  were  Papists.  Would  to  God  the 
Government  would  ensure  to  all  the  Papists  in  the  land  so  much 
liberty  of  conscience  that  none  might  hinder  them  from  hearing 
the  true  word  of  God  !  Then,  as  they  hear,  so  let  them  judge. 
In  the  evening  I  preached  at  Athlone. 

Sun.  n. — We  had  an  excellent  sermon  at  church  on  the 
intercession  of  Christ.  In  the  afternoon  abundance  of  Papists 
as  well  as  Protestants  were  present  on  the  Connaught  side  of 
the  river  while  I  explained  the  joy  that  '  is  in  heaven  over  one 
sinner  that  repenteth.'  Toward  the  close  two  or  three  eggs 
were  thrown,  and,  not  long  after,  two  stones.  One  of  them 
fell  on  a  gentleman's  servant,  the  other  on  a  drummer,  which 
so  enraged  the  dragoons  (many  of  whom  were  in  the  congrega- 


1  From   Castlebar,    where,    according  not  exclusively  on  one  side.     Only  the 

to     the     Sermon     Register,     he     again  second  half  of  the  letter  from  Castlebar 

preached,  he  wrote  to  Blackwell  ( Works,  appears  in  the  Works.     It  will  be  found 

vol.  xii.  p.  186).     The  letters  written  at  in  full  in  the  new  edition  of  the  Wesley 

this  time  to  his  confidential  friend  relate  Letters. 

in  part  to  public  affairs,  but  also  in  part  '  The  Hon.  and  Rev.  Walter  Shirley 

to  those  private  affairs  of  his  domestic  had   recently   been   appointed   rector   of 

life  which  were   veiled  in   obscurity  by  Loughrea.      He     was     cousin     to     the 

Henry  Moore,  Joseph  Benson,  Thomas  Countess  of  Huntingdon.     Three  of  his 

Jackson,  and  other  prudent  editors,  but  brothers  were  successively  Earls  Ferrers, 

which  now  ought  to  be  published.    They  He  was  a  typical  hunting  parson  of  the 

are  necessarily  ex  parte  statements,  but  day.     Henry  Moore   attributes  his  con- 

every  reader  will  understand  that,  how-  version    in   part   to  John   Wesley.      At 

ever     unwise    and     exasperating     Mrs.  Aughrim  Wesley  would  be  within  easy 

Wesley  may  have  been,  she  also  suffered,  reach  of  Loughrea.     (Crookshank,  vol.  i. 

and    the    faults  of  a    marriage-in-haste  p.  130;  cf.  pp.  137-9,  where  the  opposi- 

that    ought    never    to    have   been    were  tion  of  his  own  curate  is  described.) 


2  jo  John    Wesley  s  Journal  rJune  17B8 


tion)  that  as  soon  as  I  concluded  they  ran  all  ways  to  find  the 
man  that  threw.  The  spirit  they  showed  did  much  good  by 
striking  a  terror  into  the  rabble.  But  I  was  glad  they  did  not 
discover  the  offender.  I  believe  his  fright  was  punishment 
enough. 

Tues.  13. — I  met  the  preachers  and  stewards  at  Coolalough. 
The  congregation  at  noon  was  the  largest  I  ever  saw  there. 
In  the  afternoon  the  perplexed  case  of  I.  C.  and  I.  A.  was 
referred  to  Mr.  S.  and  Mr.  H.,1  who,  after  a  long  hearing,  judged 
(as  did  all  present)  '  that  I.  C.  had  acted  wrong  in  seizing  and 
selling  I.  A.'s  goods  for  rent  when  no  rent  was  due.' 

After  preaching  in  the  evening,  I  talked  with  Kath.  Shea, 
of  Athlone,  concerning  a  strange  account  which  I  had  heard. 
There  are  many  now  living  who  attest,  on  their  personal 
knowledge,  most  of  the  particulars  of  it.     She  said: 

When  I  was  ten  years  old  the  preaching  began  at  Athlone.  I  liked 
and  often  heard  it,  though  my  parents  were  zealous  Papists,  till  they 
removed  into  the  country.  I  then  grew  as  zealous  as  them,  and  was 
diligent  in  reading  the  Popish  prayers,  till  I  was  about  thirteen,  when, 
taking  the  Mass  Book  one  day  to  read  my  prayers,  I  could  not  see  one 
word.  I  continued  blind,  just  able  to  discern  light  from  darkness,  but 
not  to  read  or  do  any  work  ;  till,  after  three  months,  casting  my  eye  on 
a  New  Testament,  I  could  read  clearly.  I  said  to  myself,  '  I  won't  read 
this  Protestant  book  ;  I  will  read  my  own  book.'  Accordingly  I  opened 
the  Mass  Book,  but  could  not  see  one  word  ;  it  appeared  all  dark  and 
black.  I  made  the  trial  thrice  over,  holding  the  Mass  Book  in  one 
hand  and  the  Testament  in  the  other.  I  could  not  see  anything  in  the 
Mass  Book,  but  could  read  the  Testament  as  well  as  ever.  On  this 
I  threw  away  the  Mass  Book,  fully  resolved  to  meddle  with  it  no  more. 

Afterwards  my  parents  returned  to  Athlone.  Then  I  heard  the 
preaching  at  all  opportunities.  For  this  they  beat  me  many  times, 
and  at  last  turned  me  out  of  doors.  Yet  after  this  my  father  brought 
me  to  the  priest,  who  disputed  with  me  very  warmly.  At  length  my 
father  said,  '  I  think  the  girl  is  in  the  right.'  And  he  opposed  me  no 
more  to  the  day  of  his  death. 

Wed.  14. —  I  preached  at  Tullamore  about  eleven;  and  at 
Birr  in  the  evening. 

Fri.  16. — I  set  out  for  Limerick.     I  was  wet  through  from 


1  Probably  to  Mr.  Simpson  and  Mr.  Samuel  Handy. 


June  1758.  ] 


In  Ireland  271 


head  to  foot  before  I  came  thither,  but  received  no  hurt.  Here 
I  had  a  particular  account  of  the  melancholy  affair  which  was 
in  the  mouths  of  all  men.  On  Sunday  evening  last  two  officers 
were  playing  at  dice,  when  they  quarrelled  about  a  lewd  woman. 
This  occasioned  a  challenge  from  Mr.  I.,  which  the  other  would 
fain  have  declined  ;  but  he  would  not  be  denied,  and  was  so 
bent  upon  it  that  he  would  not  go  to  bed.  About  three  in  the 
morning  they  went  out  with  their  seconds  to  the  island.  Mr.  B. 
proposed  firing  at  twelve  yards'  distance,  but  Mr.  I.  said,  '  No, 
no  ;  six  is  enough.'  So  they  kissed  one  another  (poor  farce !), 
and,  before  they  were  five  paces  asunder,  both  fired  at  the  same 
instant.  The  ball  went  into  Mr.  I.'s  breast,  who  turned  round 
twice  or  thrice,  and  fell.  He  was  carried  home,  made  his  will, 
and  about  three  in  the  afternoon  died  like  a  man  of  honour  ! 

How  are  '  the  judgements  of  the  Lord  abroad  in  the  earth  '  ! 
About  Easter  last  Mr.  Beauchamp  was  at  a  gentleman's  house 
in  the  county  of  Clare,  when  a  gentleman  who  was  occasionally 
there,  finding  they  were  going  to  family  prayers,  ran  away  in 
all  haste,  swearing  he  would  have  none  of  their  swaddling1 
prayers.  Two  or  three  weeks  after  he  imagined  himself  to 
be  not  very  well.  A  physician  was  called,  who,  for  three  or 
four  days  successively,  affirmed  there  was  no  danger  at  all. 
On  the  fifth  day  a  second  physician  was  called,  who,  feeling  his 
pulse,  said,  '  Why  do  you  send  for  me  ?  I  can  do  nothing. 
He  is  a  dead  man.'  Hearing  this,  he  cried  out,  '  Doctor,  you 
have  deceived  me.  I  leave  money  enough.  But  my  soul  is 
lost  ! '  He  catched  hold  of  one  and  another,  crying,  '  Save  me  ; 
save  me  ! '  He  endeavoured  to  throw  himself  into  the  fire. 
Being  hindered  from  doing  this,  he  seized  upon  his  own  arm 
and  tore  it  with  his  teeth  ;  and,  after  a  short  time,  in  all  the 
agony  of  rage,  despair,  and  horror,  expired  ! 


For  the  meaning  of  this  term  of  reproach  see  above,  vol.  iii.  p.  472. 


PART   THE    ELEVENTH 

THE    JOURNAL 

FROM   JUNE    17,    1758,   TO   MAY   5,    1760 


VOL.  IV  273  17 


To  understand  Wesley  we  must  understand  Wesley's 
Veterans.  They  are  the  contributory  streams  which,  to 
so  large  an  extent,  made  the  main  river  of  Methodism. 
Their  influence  extended  far  beyond  the  localities  in  which 
they  were  best  known.  John  Nelson  in  the  West  Riding, 
Christopher  Hopper  in  [the  Dales,  John  Haime  in  the 
Army,  Thomas  Walsh  in  Ireland,  Howell  Harris  in 
Wales,  and  Richard  Rodda  in  Cornwall,  left  indelible 
marks  not  only  upon  their  own  people,  but  also  in  wider 
spheres.  Gradually  these  early  Preachers  became  an  order 
of  lay  brethren,  with  a  sprinkling  of  ordained  clergy, 
and  in  process  of  lime  an  ordered  ministry  itinerating 
throughout  the  country. 

During  the  period  covered  by  this  volume  they  were  an 
increasingly  powerful  body  of  men.  They  had  a  right 
wing  and  a  lejt  wing.  The  former  included  the  ordained 
leaders  of  the  Evangelical  Revival.  They  were  all  j/ien 
of  God,  and,  with  few  exceptions,  men  of  war.  Even  the 
saintly  and  gentle  Hervey  died  fighting  his  old  college 
tutor  and  friend  of  other  days.  They  fought,  as  did 
Wesley  himself,  with  tongue  and  pen,  believing  they  were 
set  for  the  defence  of  the  truth  as  well  as  for  the  reformation 
of  manners  and  the  conversion  of  sinners.  To  under- 
stand the  Wesley  type  of  Methodism  we  must  also  under- 
stand Whitefleld,  Perronet,  Walker,  Hodges,  Grimshaw, 
Venn,  Madan,  Hervey,  Sellon,  Shirley,  Berridge, 
Romaine,  and  John  Fletcher.  The  left  wing  consisted 
of  men  who  eventually  forsook  Wesley,  while  their  work 
drifted  into  other  channels ,  forming  inland  seas  or  losing 
itself  in  sands  and  morasses.  Few  things  in  this  circle 
of  study  are  more  needed  than  a  ;ust  estimate  oj  men  like 
Benjamin  Ingham,  James  Hutlon,  William  Damey, 
John  Bennet,  David  Taylor,  Howell  Harris,  Thomas 
Maxfield,  and  even  James  Wheatley.  For  these  all,  in 
the  heyday  of  their  first  love,  played  a  great  part  among 
the  highlands  and  moorlands  oj  Methodist  history  :  as  also 
did  certain  elect  women,  of  whom  Lady  Hutitingdon, 
Grace  Murray,  Sarah  Ryan,  and  Mary  Bosanquet  were 
but  types. 


THE   JOURNAL 

From  June   17,    1758,  to  May  5,    1760 

1758.  June  \y,Sat. — I  met  Thomas  Walsh  x  once  more  in 
Limerick,  alive,  and  but  just  alive.  Three  of  the  best  physi- 
cians in  these  parts  have  attended  him,  and  all  agree  that  it 
is  a  lost  case — that,  by  violent  straining  of  his  voice,  added  to 
frequent  colds,  he  has  contracted  a  pulmonary  consumption, 
which  is  now  in  the  last  stage,  and  consequently  beyond  the 
reach  of  any  human  help.  Oh  what  a  man,  to  be  snatched 
away  in  the  strength  of  his  years  !  Surely  Thy  judgements  are 
a  great  deep  ! 

Wed.  21. — Our  little  Conference  began,  at  which  fourteen 
preachers  were  present.  We  settled  all  things  here  which  we 
judged  would  be  of  use  to  the  preachers  or  the  societies,  and 
consulted  how  to  remove  whatever  might  be  an  hindrance  to  the 
work  of  God.2 

Fri.  23. — I  rode  over  to  Courtmatrix,  a  colony  of  Germans, 
whose  parents  came  out  of  the  Palatinate  about  fifty  years 
ago.  Twenty  families  of  them  settled  here,  twenty  more  at 
Killeheen,  a  mile  off,  fifty  at  Ballingarrane,  about  two  miles  east- 


1  Walsh  landed  at  Cork  from  England  tion  had  been  raised.     Walsh's  defence 

in   the    middle   of  April,    with    all   the  should  be  preserved  as   a   memorial  of 

symptoms  of  consumption   (E.M.P.  vol.  him,  and  as  a  motto  for  Methodist  disci- 

iii.   p.    262;    also    above,    p.    179,    and  plinary  courts  :  '  Brother  Davis  is  a  wise 

Wesley  Studies,  pp.  131-4).  and  good  man,  and   these  objections  to 

-  The    third     Irish    Conference    (see  his  phraseology  will  soon  be  done  away 

Meth.     Mag.,    Dublin,     1804,    p.    517).  when  he  becomes  more  acquainted  with 

Among     the     preachers     was    Thomas  the  writings  of  the  Methodists.'   Wesley, 

Walsh.     His  last  official  service  for  Irish  who  presided,  heard  and  approved.     So 

Methodism  was  a  plea  for  a  good  man,  did   the  Conference.     And  Mark   Davis 

against  whose  doctrinal  opinions  objec-  obtained  his  circuit. 

275 


276  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Junei758. 

ward,  and  twenty  at  Pallas,  four  miles  farther.  Each  family  had 
a  few  acres  of  ground,  on  which  they  built  as  many  little  houses. 
They  are  since  considerably  increased  in  number  of  souls, 
though  decreased  in  number  of  families.  Having  no  minister, 
they  were  become  eminent  for  drunkenness,  cursing,  swearing, 
and  an  utter  neglect  of  religion.  But  they  are  washed  since 
they  heard  and  received  the  truth  which  is  able  to  save  their 
souls.  An  oath  is  now  rarely  heard  among  them,  or  a 
drunkard  seen  in  their  borders.  Courtmatrix  is  built  in  the 
form  of  a  square,  in  the  middle  of  which  they  have  placed  a 
pretty  large  preaching-house '  ;  but  it  would  not  contain  one- 
half  of  the  congregation,  so  1  stood  in  a  large  yard.  The 
wind  kept  off  the  rain  while  I  was  preaching.  As  soon  as  I 
ended  it  began. 

Sun.  25. — About  six  I  preached  in  the  island  in  a  square 
green  enclosure,  which  was  formerly  Oliver  Cromwell's  camp.  I 
have  not  seen  such  a  congregation  since  we  left  London.  To 
how  much  better  purpose  is  this  ground  employed  than  it  was 
in  the  last  century  ! 

Thur.  29. — I  rode  to  Clare,  and  at  six  preached  in  the  street 
to  many  poor  Papists  and  rich  Protestants,  almost  all  the  gentry 
in  the  country  being  assembled  together.  Thence  I  went  on  to 
Ennis,  and  at  ten  the  next  morning  had  another  genteel  congrega- 
tion in  the  court-house.  In  Ennis  many  suppose  there  are  not 
less  than  fifty  Papists  to  one  Protestant.    They  would  have  been 

very  ready  to  show  their  good-will,  but  the  sight  of  Mr.  B 2 

kept  them  in  awe.  A  report,  however,  was  spread  of  some 
terrible  things  they  were  to  do  in  the  evening,  and  many  were 
surprised  to  observe  that  more  than  nine  in  ten  of  the  congre- 
gation were  Papists ;  but  none  spoke  an  unkind  or  uncivil  word, 
either  while  I  preached  or  after  I  had  done. 

How  unspeakable  is  the  advantage,  in  point  of  common  sense, 
which  middling  people  have  over  the  rich  !  There  is  so  much 
paint  and  affectation,  so  many  unmeaning  words  and  senseless 


1  Erected  through  the  zeal  of  Philip  '  the  honoured  partner  of  his  struggles 

Embury,  who  worked   on   the  building  and  victories.' 

with  his  own  hands.     In  the  November  2  Probably  Mr.    Bindon,   over  against 

following  Embury  married  Mary  Switzer,  whose  house  he  preached  May  27,  1762. 


July  1758.J 


F>i   Treland  277 


customs  among  people  of  rank,  as  fully  justify  the  remark  made 
seventeen  hundred  years  ago  : 

Rarus  enim  ferme  sensus  communis  in  ilia 
Fortuna.1 

JULY  2,  Sun. — I  preached  in  the  island  near  Limerick,  both 
morning  and  evening,  standing  on  the  side  of  a  large  hollow 
adjoining  to  the  old  camp.  The  ground  on  the  sides  of  it  sloped 
upward,  so  that  the  people  sat  on  the  grass,  row  above  row. 
Such  an  amphitheatre  I  never  saw  before,  in  which  thousands 
of  hearers  were  so  commodiously  placed,  and  they  seemed 
earnestly  to  attend  to  our  Lord's  invitation, '  Come,  for  all  things 
are  now  ready  ! ' 

I  did  not  then  observe  that  I  strained  myself,  but  in  the 
morning  I  was  extremely  hoarse.  This  increased  all  day,  to- 
gether with  a  load  and  stoppage  in  my  breast.  On  Tuesday 
morning  I  began  spitting  blood,  found  a  pain  in  my  left  side,  a 
sensible  decay  of  strength,  and  a  deep  wheezing  cough,  just  the 
symptoms  which  I  had  some  years  since.  I  immediately  applied 
a  brimstone  plaster  to  my  side  and  used  a  linctus  of  roasted 
lemon  and  honey. 

Wed.  5. — My  side  was  quite  easy,  and  my  hoarseness  much 
abated,  so  in  the  evening  I  made  shift  to  preach  again,  though 
not  without  difficulty.  I  had  purposed  preaching  the  next  day 
at  Shronell  (about  twenty-four  English  miles  from  Limerick),  and 
at  Clonmel,  about  the  same  distance  from  Shronell  ;  but,  per- 
ceiving my  strength  would  not  suffice,  and  yielding  to  the  advice 
of  my  friends,  I  rested  another  day. 

Tliur.  6. — The  news  of  Prince  Ferdinand's  victory2  had  half 

1  'For  in  such  an  elevated  condition  of  Crefeld    he  won  a  signal  victory.     His 

life,  common  sense  is  generally  very  rare'  purely  German  army  was  now  reinforced 

(Juvenal,    Sat.    viii.  73).      See  note   on  by  a  British  contingent  of  six  squadrons 

Wesley's    use    of   sensus  communis   (■  a  of  cavalry   and    six   infantry   battalions, 

sense    held    in    common    with    others  ')  under  the  Duke  of  Marlborough.     Their 

( W.H.S.  vol.  v.  p.  47).  dispatch  showed  that  the  Ministry  fully 

-  Professor  Oman,  in  his  History  of  the  recognized   the   importance   of  enabling 

Hanoverian  Period,  says  :  '  The  tide  in  Ferdinand   to   act   as  a  true  containing 

America     had     turned.    .   .   .    Pitt     was  force  to  work  in  concert  with  Frederick 

learning  from  events.     For  generals  who  and   protect    Hanover,    Brunswick,   and 

blundered  Great  Britain  had  no  use,  and  Hesse,   if  possible,  against  the  army  of 

.  .  .  Ferdinand,    however,  had   justified  the  Rhine  under  Contades  and  the  army 

his  appointment.     By  skilful  operations  of  the  Main  under  Soubise.     By  the  end 

he   drove  the  French    back   behind    the  of  1758  Ferdinand  occupied  a  line   frq 

Aller  and    then  across   the   Rhine.      At  Munster  to  Paderborn.' 


278  John    Wesley  s  Journal  juiyrrss. 


turned  the  heads  of  most  of  the  Protestants,  till  they  were 
brought  to  themselves  by  news  of  another  kind,  which  ran 
through  the  city  as  in  an  instant.  One  who  was  well  known 
therein,  a  great  curser  and  blasphemer,  and  eminently  '  without 
God  in  the  world,'  went  a-fishing  a  little  way  from  his  own  door, 
and  stood  with  his  angling-rod  on  the  edge  of  the  water.  Many 
were  looking  on  when,  his  foot  slipping,  he  fell  forward  and 
sunk.  As  help  was  at  hand  he  was  soon  drawn  out,  but  it  was 
too  late;  there  were  no  remains  of  life — his  soul  was  gone  to  give 
its  account. 

Fri.  7. — I  rode  in  a  chaise  to  Charleville,  and  thence  on 
an  easy  horse  to  Cork.  James  Massiot  died  in  peace  the 
morning  before,  so  I  was  just  in  time  to  perform  the  last  office 
for  him.1 

Sat.  8. — The  congregation  was  large,  but  my  voice  was  so 
weak  that  many  could  not  hear. 

Sun.  9. — After  the  burial  of  James  Massiot  I  preached  to 
a  multitude  of  people  on  '  Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in 
the  Lord,'  and  the  longer  I  spoke  the  more  my  voice  was 
strengthened. 

Tues.  11. — I  rode  with  James  Morgan2  to  Bandon,  and 
preached  in  the  market-house  to  a  listening  multitude.3 

Wed.  12. — I  read  over  the  Analysis  of  Lord  Bolingbroke's 
Works}  Surely  never  did  any  man  so  flatly  contradict  and  so 
fully  answer  himself.3 

Thur.    13. — About    noon    I    preached    in   the    Exchange  at 


1  The   first  Irish   Methodist    preacher  overflow  of  the  congregation.     Both  in 

who  entered  into  his  rest.  Ireland  and  England  provision  had  to  be 

'-'  Thomas    Walsh's    biographer.      For  made  at  '  the  room  '  for  man  and  beast. 

James  Morgan   see  Atmore's  Memorial,  '  The    Rev.    Thomas  Church.    M.A., 

p.  282.     On   the   title-page   of  Walsh's  published  this  Analysis  anonymously  in 

Life  Morgan  calls  himself  a  '  member  of  1755-     Church  was  vicar  of  Battersea, 

the  Church  of  England.'     Yet  he  was  a  and     an     early    but     not    discourteous 

recognized  Methodist  preacher.  critic   of  Whitefield   and   Wesley.     The 

3  Wesley  refers  on  the  next    page   to  Bolingbrokes  held  the  manor  of  Chelsea, 

the    '  shell '    of     the     new     preaching-  and  several   of  them    are  buried  in  the 

house    here.       In     a     corner      of    the  church. 

gallery,    erected  a  little    later,    a   room  5  For  part  of  a  letter  to  Blackwell  on 

with    removable      partitions    was     con-  this  date  see  Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  186.     It 

structed,  which  served  alike  as  a  lodging  appears   in   full    in    the   new   edition  o 

for   the  itinerant    preachers   and  for  an  Wesley  Letters. 


July  i7M.)  In  Ireland  279 

Kinsale.1  The  townsfolks  '  care  for  none  of  these  things.'  But 
we  had  a  large  congregation  of  soldiers,  many  of  whom  are  good 
soldiers  of  Jesus  Christ. 

In  the  evening  I  preached  in  the  main  street  at  Bandon. 
Having  now  need  of  all  my  voice,  it  was  given  me  again, 
only  with  a  little  pain  in  my  side,  which  ceased  while  I  was 
speaking. 

Sat.  15. — I  preached  about  noon  at  Inishannon,  and  re- 
turned to  Bandon.  A  fortnight  since  they  laid  the  foundation 
of  their  preaching-house.2  This  evening  I  preached  in  the  shell 
of  it,  but  it  would  not  contain  the  congregation.  Truly  these  are 
'  swift  to  hear,'  though  not  '  slow  to  speak.' 

Sun.  16. — I  preached  again  in  the  shell  of  the  house  at  eight, 
and  in  the  main  street  at  six  in  the  evening.  Observing  many 
of  the  French  officers  there,  I  could  not  but  pray  for  them  in 
particular.  Some  of  them  were  deeply  attentive.  Perhaps  it 
was  not  for  nothing  that  God  brought  them  into  a  strange 
land. 

Mon.  17. — I  returned  to  Cork. 

Wed.  19. —  I  began  speaking  severally  to  the  members  of  the 
society.  Many  of  them,  I  found,  were  truly  alive  to  God.  Old 
misunderstandings  were  removed,  and  I  had  the  satisfaction 
of  seeing  them  so  united  together  as  they  had  not  been  for 
many  years. 

Fri.  21. — I  met  with  a  tract  which  utterly  confounded  all 
my  philosophy.  I  had  long  believed  that  microscopic  animals 
were  generated,  like  all  other  animals,  by  parents  of  the  same 
species  ;  but  Mr.  Needham  makes  it  highly  probable  that  they 
constitute  a  peculiar  class  of  animals,  differing  from  all  others  in 
this,  that  they  neither  are  generated  or  generate,  nor  subsist  by 
food,  in  the  ordinary  way.3 

Tues.  25.  —  In  the  evening  I  assisted  the  society  in  renewing 
their  covenant  with  God.  It  was  to  many  a  season  of  great 
refreshment,  and  the  fear  of  God  was  upon  all. 

Sun.  30. —  I   began   meeting  the  children   in  the   afternoon, 


'  The   Sermon    Register   is   blank   in  secretary  to  make  them  (see  above,  p.  3), 

July    until    now,   because    of    Wesley's  '-'  On  Kilbrogan  Hill, 

illness  ;  but,  apart  from  this,  entries  are  3  See  W.H.S.  vol.  iv.  p.  134. 
irregular  because   there   is   no  longer  a 


280  John    Wesley  s  Journal  rAug.  itss. 

though  with  little  hopes  of  doing  them  good.  But  I  had  not 
spoke  long  on  our  natural  state  before  many  of  them  were  in 
tears,  and  five  or  six  so  affected  that  they  could  not  refrain  from 
crying  aloud  to  God.  When  I  began  to  pray  their  cries 
increased,  so  that  my  voice  was  soon  lost.  I  have  seen  no  such 
work  among  children  for  eighteen  or  nineteen  years. 

Mon.  31. — I  finished  the  Glasgow  Abridgement  of  Mr. 
Hutchinson  s  Works}  He  was  doubtless  a  man  of  uncommon 
understanding,  and  indefatigable  application.  Yet  the  more 
I  consider  it,  the  less  can  I  subscribe  to  his  system  either  of 
divinity  or  philosophy,  as  I  am  more  and  more  convinced  that 
they  have  no  foundation  in  Scripture  or  sound  reason. 

AUG.  1,  Tues. — The  captain  with  whom  we  were  to  sail 
was  in  great  haste  to  have  our  things  on  board  ;  but  I  would 
not  send  them  while  the  wind  was  against  us.  On  Wednesday 
he  sent  message  after  message :  so  in  the  evening  we  went  down 
to  the  ship,  near  Passage  [West] ;  but  there  was  nothing  ready 
or  near  ready  for  sailing.  Hence  I  learned  two  or  three  rules, 
very  needful  for  those  who  sail  between  England  and  Ireland  : 
(1)  Never  pay  till  you  set  sail  ;  (2)  Go  not  on  board  till  the 
captain  goes  on  board  ;  (3)  Send  not  your  baggage  on  board  till 
you  go  yourself. 

Tliur.  3. — I  returned  to  Cork.  On  Saturday  the  5th  we  were 
called  on  board  in  all  haste  ;  but,  the  captain  being  in  no  haste 
to  sail,  I  preached  at  Cork  again  on  Sunday  at  five,  and  then 
returned  to  Passage.  He  now  said  he  would  fall  down  to 
Cove  2  directly  ;  so  we  took  boat  and  went  down  thither  ;  but 
no  captain  appeared  either  this  day  or  the  next.  So  that  I 
might  not  lie  idle,  I  went  down  to  the  beach,  and  began 
preaching  to  as  wild,  unpromising  a  congregation  as  ever  I  saw 
in  this  kingdom.  However,  they  performed  more  than  they 
promised,  for  they  grew  more  and  more  quiet  and  attentive, 
and  some  of  them  appeared  to  be  deeply  affected. 

Mon.  7. — Hearing  nothing  of  our  captain  yet,  in  the  after- 
noon I  went  to  the  middle  of  the  town.  Abundance  of  people 
ran  together,  but  they  were  far  too  wild  and  noisy  to  admit 
of  my  giving  out  a  psalm  or  naming  a  text  in  the  usual  way  ; 
so   I   fell  abruptly  upon  as  many  as  could  hear,  in  a  free  and 

1  See  above,  pp.  190-1.  '-"  Now  called  Queenstown. 


Aug.  1768.]  The  Fifteenth  Conference  28 1 

familiar  manner.  In  a  few  minutes  the  whole  body  were  quiet, 
and  tolerably  attentive.  They  were  more  and  more  serious,  till 
I  concluded  with  a  hymn  and  a  short  prayer. 

Immediately  after  preaching  I  was  sent  for  to  a  gentleman 
who  was  struck  with  the  palsy.  I  found  the  house  full  of  his 
friends  and  relations,  to  whom  I  spoke  freely  and  largely.  They 
seemed  to  be  more  than  ordinarily  affected.  Perhaps  for  this 
also  we  were  detained  at  Cove. 

Tues.  8. — I  preached,  not  far  from  the  beach,  to  a  very  decent 
and  serious  congregation.  Presently  after,  a  vessel  sailed  by, 
bound  for  Wales.  We  went  on  board  without  delay,  got  out 
of  the  harbour  by  eleven,  and  by  Wednesday  noon  were  abreast 
of  the  Isle  of  Lundy.  But  we  had  not  yet  done  our  work,  for 
the  wind  fell,  and  we  did  not  get  into  the  river  till  near  sunset. 
Observing  three  or  four  sailors  standing  together,  I  began 
explaining  to  them  the  nature  of  religion.  In  a  few  minutes 
all  within  the  ship  came  together,  and,  without  the  ceremony  of 
naming  a  text,  I  enlarged  on  '  The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  not 
meat  and  drink  ;  but  righteousness,  and  peace,  and  joy  in  the 
Holy  Ghost.'  About  eleven  we  landed  at  Penclawdd,1  and  in 
the  morning  rode  to  Swansea. 

Tkitr.  10. — We  rode  through  a  pleasant  country  to  Pyle. 
We  were  setting  out  from  thence  when  a  violent  shower  drove 
us  into  the  house  again,  and  constrained  us  to  talk  with  two  or 
three  travellers.  I  believe  our  labour  was  not  lost,  for  they 
appeared  to  be  greatly  affected.  I  preached  at  Cardiff  in  the 
evening  and  the  next  morning.  We  reached  the  New  Passage 
about  noon.  But  they  did  not  tell  us  till  half-hour  after  five 
that  the  boat  would  not  pass  that  night.  With  much  difficulty 
I  procured  a  small  boat  to  carry  us  over,  leaving  our  horses 
behind.  Landing  soon  after  six,  we  walked  on,  and  between 
nine  and  ten  came  to  Bristol. 

Here  I  met  with  a  trial  of  another  kind  2 ;  but  this  also  shall 
be  for  good.  On  the  following  days  was  our  yearly  Conference, 
begun  and  ended  in  perfect  harmony.'5 


1  See  Meth.  Rec.  Winter    No.,   1900,  more  and  more  strained.     See  his  cor- 
p.  17.  respondence  with  Black  well. 

2  This  probably  refers  to  his  relations  3  The    Fifteenth    Yearly    Conference 
with  Mrs.  Wesley,  which  were  becoming  commenced  in  Bristol  on  Aug.  12.    John 


282  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [Aug.  i708. 

Thur.  17.1 — I  went  to  the  cathedral  to  hear  Mr.  Handel's 
Messiah.  I  doubt  if  that  congregation  was  ever  so  serious  at 
a  sermon  as  they  were  during  this  performance.  In  many 
parts,  especially  several  of  the  choruses,  it  exceeded  my 
expectation. 

Having  promised  to  take  a  little  journey  into  Wales,  on 
Monday  the  21st  I  set  out  with  Joseph  Jones.2  We  were  in 
the  boat  before  nine,  but  did  not  land  our  horses  till  a  quarter 
before  three.  However,  I  reached  Cardiff  time  enough  to 
preach  in  the  room,3  though  not  in  the  Castle. 

Tues.  22. —  I  gathered  up,  as  well  as  I  could,  the  fragments 
of  the  society.  At  six  in  the  evening  I  preached  in  the 
Castle. 

Wed.  23. — We  rode  to  Fonmon.  The  behaviour  of  Mr. 
Jones  surprised  me.  It  seemed  as  if  he  inherited  the  spirit  of 
his  father.4  I  preached  at  seven  to  a  deeply  serious  congregation, 
and  to  a  good  part  of  them  at  five  in  the  morning. 

Thur.  24. — I  wrote  a  second  letter  to  Dr.  Free,5  the  warmest 
opponent  I  have  had  for  many  years.  I  leave  him  now  to  laugh, 
and  scold,  and  witticize,  and  call  names  just  as  he  pleases  ;  for 
I  have  done. 

Fri.  25. — I  rode  to  Cowbridge,  and  preached  at  three  in  the 
afternoon,  in  the  new  assembly  room.  I  observed  no  trifler 
there,  though  there  were  several  of  the  better  rank.  About  six 
I  preached  in  a  green  court  at  Llanmaes,  to  a  company  of 
right  old  simple  Christians.  I  could  not  get  from  them  so 
soon  as  I  designed  ;  so  that  we  did  not  reach  Fonmon  till  near 
nine. 

Sat.  26. — One  undertook  to  guide  me  the  nearest  way  into 
the  main  road  ;  but  in  five  or  six  miles  he  lost  his  way,  so  that 
for  some  time  we  wandered  upon  the  mountains.     About  noon, 


and  Charles    Wesley,    Francis   Okeley,  '  See  Atmore's  Memorial,  p.  225. 

and  thirty-four  preachers  were   present.  *  In  St.  John  the  Baptist  Street,  now 

Kingswood   School,  the  membership  of  Church  Street. 

children,  a  severe  discipline  for  the  bands,  •  Unhappily   for   himself,  he  did   not 

and  the  doctrine  of  Christian  Perfection  inherit  the  spirit  of  his  father.     He  was 

were  the   chief    topics   of  conversation.  a   spendthrift,  and   greatly  reduced   the 

(Tyerman,  vol.  ii.  pp.  306-8.)  estates. 

'  The  Sermon  Register  records  preach-  s  See  above,   pp.  262-3;  also  Green's 

ing  at   Bristol  on  Aug.    13,  15,  and   17.  Bibliography,  No.    187. 


aur  i768.i  In    Wales  283 


however,  we  got  into  the  road,  and  an  hour  and  half  after  to 
Pyle.  Before  wc  left  it  I  spoke  a  few  words  to  the  woman  of 
the  house.  She  seemed  quite  struck.  How  few  words  suffice, 
when  God  applies  them  to  the  heart  ! 

I  knew  not  where  to  go  at  Neath ;  but,  as  we  entered  the 
town,  a  man  fixed  his  eyes  upon  me  (though  he  had  never 
seen  me  before)  and  said,  '  Sir,  that  is  the  house  where  the 
preachers  put  up  their  horses.'  I  had  been  there  only  a  few 
minutes  when  another  came  in  and  said,  '  Sir,  Mrs.  Morgan 
expects  you.  I  will  show  you  the  way.'  To  Mrs.  Morgan's 
we  went,  and  were  as  cordially  received  as  if  she  had  known 
us  twenty  years.  It  was  market-day  ;  so  I  preached  about 
five  in  the  room,  a  large,  commodious  place.  I  believe  most 
that  were  present  (several  of  whom  were  backsliders)  felt  that 
God  was  there. 

Sun.  27. — We  reached  Swansea  at  seven,  and  were  met  by 
one  who  conducted  us  to  his  house,  and  thence  to  a  kind  of 
castle,1  in  which  was  a  green  court,  surrounded  by  high  old 
walls.  A  large  congregation  assembled  soon,  and  behaved  with 
the  utmost  decency.  A  very  uncommon  blessing  was  among 
them,  as  uses  to  be  among  them  that  are  simple  of  heart. 

The  congregation  was  considerably  more  than  doubled  at 
five  in  the  afternoon.  Many  gay  and  well-dressed  persons  were 
among  them  ;  but  they  were  as  serious  as  the  poorest.  Peter 
Jaco,  who  was  driven  to  us  by  contrary  winds,  was  agreeably 
surprised  at  them. 

Mon.  28. — I  scarce  ever  saw  such  a  rain  in  Europe  as  we 
had  for  considerable  part  of  this  morning.  In  one  of  the  main 
streets  the  water  ran  with  a  stream  capable  of  turning  a  mill. 
However,  having  appointed  to  preach  at  noon,  in  Newton, 
about  six  miles  from  Swansea,  I  was  determined  not  to  break 
my  word,  though  I  supposed  but  few  would  attend.  But  I 
was  mistaken  ;  such  a  number  of  people  came  together  as  no 
house  in  the  town  could  contain.  A  barn  was  soon  prepared  ; 
and  it  pleased  God  to  send  a  gracious  rain  upon  their  hearts. 

After  preaching  at  Swansea  in  the  evening  I  met  those  who 


1  The  castle  in  part  may  still  be  seen,       upon.    See  Melh.  Rec.  Winter  No.,  1900. 
but   the    '  green  court '    has   been   built       p.  18. 


284  John    Wesley  s  Journal  (Sept.  176$. 

desired  to  join  in  a  society,  and  explained  to  them  the  nature 
and  design  of  it,  with  which  they  were  quite  unacquainted. 

Tttes.  29. — I  rode  back  to  Neath,  in  order  to  put  the  society 
there  (an  unlicked  mass)  into  some  form.  This  on  Saturday 
they  had  begged  me  to  do  ;  but  they  seemed  now  to  have 
quite  forgotten  it.  Mr.  Evans,  the  Presbyterian  minister,  had 
turned  them  upside  down.  They  looked  as  if  they  had  never 
seen  me  before  ;  all  but  five  or  six,  who  were  much  ashamed 
of  their  brethren.1 

Wed.  30 — I  rode  on  to  Margam.  There  used  to  be  preach- 
ing here,  till  Lord  Mansell,2  dying  without  children,  left  the 
estate  to  Mr.  Talbot.  He  forbad  all  his  tenants  to  receive  the 
preachers,  and  so  effectually  put  a  stop  to  it.  But  he  did  not 
glory  in  it  long.     A  few  months  after  God  called  him  home. 

At  noon  I  preached  again  in  the  assembly-room  at  Cow- 
bridge  ;  in  the  castle  at  Cardiff  in  the  evening. 

Thur.  31. — I  talked  with  several  of  the  people,  and  found 
the  old  spirit  swiftly  reviving.  In  the  evening  I  preached  in 
the  town  hall.  Several  eminent  sinners  were  present ;  and  God 
was  present  in  an  uncommon  manner,  as  also  at  the  meeting  of 
the  society. 

Sept.  i,  Fri. — After  a  busy  and  comfortable  day,  I  preached 
once  more  in  the  Castle.  The  word  seemed  to  sink  deep  into 
the  hearers,  though  many  of  them  were  of  the  genteeler  sort. 
In  the  society  we  were  much  refreshed.  Many  followed  me  to 
Thomas  Gl[ascot]'s  house,3  where  two  or  three  were  cut  to  the 
heart,  particularly  both  his  daughters,  and  cried  to  God  with 
strong  cries  and  tears. 

Sat.  2. — We  rode  to  the  New  Passage,  crossed  over  in  half 
an  hour,  and  about  five  came  to  Bristol.4 

Sat.  9. — I  wrote  the  account  of  an  extraordinary  monument 
of  divine  mercy — Nathaniel  Othen,  who  was  shot  for  desertion 


'  On  Tuesday,  Aug.  29,  he  preached  '  One  of   the  overseers   of  the   poor, 

at  '  Lanceston,'   and   on   the   same   day  He   entertained    Charles  Wesley  on  his 

John  Newton  wrote  to  him  from  Liver-  first  visit  to  Cardiff  (IV.ff.S.  vol.  iii.  p. 

pool.  176). 

•  Or    rather,    Sir    Thomas    Mansell,  4  On  Sunday  the  3rd  he  preached  at 

Bart.,  who  died  Nov.  29,  1750,  and  left  Bristol  and  Kingswood  ;  on  Sunday  the 

the  fine  estate  to  his  son-in-law,  Mr.  John  10th    at    Bristol;   and,  without  date,  at 

Talbot,  of  Laycock  Abbey.  Paulton. 


Oct  1768]  In  Bristol  285 

at  Dover  Castle,  in  October  1757.1  In  the  following  week  I 
met  Mr.  Fletcher  and  the  other  preachers  that  were  in  the 
house,  and  spent  a  considerable  time  in  close  conversation  on 
the  head  of  Christian  Perfection.  I  afterwards  wrote  down 
the  general  propositions  wherein  we  all  agreed. 

Tliur.  14. — I  rode  to  Coleford,  and  was  much  refreshed 
among  the  simple,  zealous  colliers. 

Sat.  16. —  In  the  evening  I  preached  at  Bradford,  as  also 
at  five  and  eight  on  Sunday  morning.  At  two,  as  soon  as  we 
were  in  the  house  at  Freshford,  it  poured  down  with  rain  ;  so 
that,  after  as  many  as  could  had  crowded  in,  the  rest  were  con- 
strained to  go  away.  But  the  rain  ceased  as  soon  as  we  took 
horse,  and  we  had  a  pleasant  ride  to  Bristol. 

Wed.  20. — I  rode  over  to  Bath ;  but  the  room  would  ill 
contain  the  congregation,  so  I  encouraged  them  in  their  design 
of  taking  a  piece  of  ground,  and  building  without  delay.  In 
the  evening  I  preached  at  Shepton  ;  and  several  of  the  rich 
and  honourable  took  it  into  their  mind  to  come.  But  they 
came  too  late,  for  the  house  was  already  thoroughly  filled 
with  the  poor. 

Thur.  21. — As  we  rode  homeward  we  saw  a  sight  in- 
deed - — a  woman  in  the  extremity  of  pain,  rotting  away  piece- 
meal by  the  King's  evil,  full  of  sores  from  head  to  foot,  with 
several  of  her  bones  appearing  through  the  skin,  and  continually 
praising  God  with  tears  of  joy  for  dealing  '  so  mercifully  '  with 
her.3 

Sufi.  24. — The  famous  Roger  Ball  4  had  planted  himself  in 
Stokes  Croft  before  I  came.  However,  as  there  was  a  large 
congregation,  I  did  not  think  it  right  to  leave  them  to  him, 
but  began  as  usual,  and  preached  till  near  six  o'clock,  without 
paying  any  regard  to  him. 

OCT.  1,  Sun. — I  took  my  leave  of  the  congregation  and  of 
the  children  in  Kingswood,  and  God  gave  us  a  parting  blessing. 


'  See  Green's  Bibliography,  No.  188.  Sept.  24,  at  Kingswood,  and  on  Sunday, 

-  This  case  is  almost  exactly  parallel  Oct.  I,  at  'Lanceston.' 

to  the  one  described  Sept.  2,  1754.    Both  *  Or  rather,    'infamous   Roger    Ball,' 

incidents  occurred  at  or  near  Shepton.  who  for  years  plagued  Wesley  so  much. 

*  On  Saturday  the  23rd  he  preached  at  See  W.  C.  Sheldon's  Early  Methodism 

Bristol  and  Kingswood  ;  also  on  Sunday,  in  Birmingham.,  p.  7. 


286  John    Wesley  s  Journal  rocti768. 

Mon.  2. — I  preached  at  Bradford  '  (noon  and  night),  and 
met  the  stewards  of  the  Wiltshire  and  Somersetshire  societies. 
In  the  evening  I  baptized  a  young  woman,  deeply  convinced  of 
sin.  We  all  found  the  power  of  God  was  present  to  heal,  and 
she  herself  felt  what  she  had  not  words  to  express. 

Tues.  3. — One  of  Warminster  who  was  at  Bristol  last  week 
had  desired  me  to  call  at  his  house.  I  did  so  this  morning,2  and 
preached  in  his  yard,  to  a  numerous  congregation  of  saints 
and  sinners,  rich  and  poor,  Churchmen,  Quakers,  and  Presby- 
terians, both  of  the  old  and  new  way.3  Some  disturbance  was 
expected,  but  there  was  none.  The  whole  assembly  behaved 
well  ;  and,  instead  of  curses  or  stones,  we  had  many  blessings 
as  we  rode  through  the  town  for  Salisbury. 

Wed.  4. —  I  rested  there. 

Thur.  5. — 1  rode  by  Redbridge  and  Farcham  to  Portsmouth, 
where  at  seven  I  preached  in  Mr.  Whitefield's  Tabernacle  to  a 
small,  serious  congregation. 

Fri.  6. — I  designed  to  go  in  a  wherry  to  the  Isle  of  Wight  ; 
but  the  watermen  were  so  extravagant  in  their  demands  that  I 
changed  my  mind,  and  went  in  the  hoy.  And  it  was  well  I 
did,  for  the  sea  was  so  high  it  would  not  have  been  easy  for  a 
small  boat  to  keep  above  water.  We  landed  at  two,  and  walked 
on,  five  little  miles,  to  Newport.  The  neighbouring  camp  had 
filled  the  town  with  soldiers,  the  most  abandoned  wretches 
whom  I  ever  yet  saw.  Their  whole  glorying  was  in  cursing, 
swearing,  drunkenness,  and  lewdness.  How  gracious  is  God, 
that  He  does  not  yet  send  those  monsters  to  their  own  place ! 4 


'  On   Monday,  October  2,   he  is  also  of  England,  allowed  the  force  of  several 

entered  as  preaching  at  Bristol.  objections.     Among  other  things  he  says, 

-  This  was  Wesley's  first  and  last  visit.  referring  to  the  Liturgy  :    '  I  should  not 

Some  time  afterwards  a  class  was  formed.  dare  to  declare  my  assent  and  consent  to 

Amidst  the  bitterest  persecution  it  held  that  book  in  the  terms  prescribed.     In- 

on  its  way.      (Tyerman,  vol.  ii.  p.  308.  deed,   they   are  so   strong   that   I  think 

See  also  W.M.  Mag.  1835,  p.  810  ;  and  they  cannot  safely  be  used  with  regard  to 

Tuck's  Hist,  of  Meth.  in  Frome,  p.  41.)  any  book  but  the  Bible.     Neither  dare  I 

3  Tradition  says  in  Mr.  Bowden's  confine  myself  wholly  to  forms  of  prayer, 
tan-yard  ( City  Road  Mag.  1876,  p.  297).  not  even  in   the   church.     I  use  indeed 

4  In  October  Wesley  wrote  to  the  all  the  forms ;  but  I  frequently  add 
Rev.  S.  Walker  of  Truro  an  instructive  extemporary  prayer,  either  before  or 
letter  showing  to  what  extent  he  at  this  after  sermon.'  {Works,  vol.  xiii.  p.  206; 
time  sympathized  with  those  who,  whilst  also  above,  pp.  137  and  236.) 

not  wishful  to  separate  from  the  Church 


Oct  175&]  The  Story  of  a  Siege  287 

At  five  I  preached  in  the  corn-market,  and  at  six  in  the 
morning.  A  few  even  of  the  soldiers  attended.  One  of  these, 
Benjamin  Lawrence,  walked  with  us  to  Wootton  Bridge,  where 
we  intended  to  take  boat.  He  was  in  St.  Philip's  Fort  during 
the  whole  siege,1  concerning  which  I  asked  him  many  questions. 
He  said:  '(1)  Abundance  of  cattle  was  left  in  the  fields,  till 
the  French  (long  expected)  came  and  took  them.  (2)  Abun- 
dance of  wine  was  left  in  the  town,  even  more  than  the  French 
could  use  ;  and  there  was  not  enough  in  the  Castle  even  for 
the  sick  men.  (3)  A  large,  strong,  stone  house  was  left  stand- 
ing, within  a  small  distance  of  the  Fort.  Behind  this  the 
French  often  formed  themselves,  particularly  before  the  last 
assault.  (4)  This  might  easily  be  accounted  for.  We  had 
few  officers  of  any  experience ;  and  the  governor  never  came 
out  of  his  house.  (5)  The  French  made  two  general  assaults, 
and  were  repulsed,  and  many  blown  up  by  our  mines.  But 
the  mines  having  never  been  looked  after  till  just  when  we 
wanted  them,  most  of  them  were  utterly  useless  ;  so  that  only 
two,  out  of  threescore,  did  any  execution.  (6)  In  their  third 
assault   (which    they   were    very   hardly    persuaded    to    make) 

Captain ,  who  commanded   the  guard    of  a  hundred  men 

at  the  sally  port,  ran  away  before  he  was  attacked  ;  and  his 
men,  having  none  to  command  them,  went  after.  I  was  left 
alone,  till  I  retired  also ;  and  the  French,  having  none  to 
oppose  them,  came  in.  (7)  In  the  morning  our  men  were  mad 
to  drive  them  out,  and  would  have  done  it  in  an  hour,  but 
that  they  were  told  the  Fort  was  given  up,  and  ordered  to 
cease  firing.  (8)  We  had,  at  the  approach  of  the  enemy, 
three  thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirty-three  effective  men  ; 
and  we  had  very  near  as  many  when  we  surrendered,  with 
plenty  of  provision  and  ammunition.'  O  human  justice !  One 
great  man  is  shot,2  and  another  is  made  a  lord  ! 

We  hired  a  small  fisher-boat  at  Wootton  Bridge,  there  being 
scarce  any  wind ;  but  it  increased  more  and  more  when  we 
were  on  the  sea,  which  was  seven  miles  over.  Our  cock-boat 
danced  on  the   waves,  and  must  have  sunk  if  one  large  wave 


'  For  an  account  ol  the  capture  ot  Port  Mahon  and  its  citadel  Fort  St.  Philip,  with 
map  of  fortification,  see  Gentleman  s  Mag.  1756,  p.  374.  -  Byng. 


288  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Oct.  1768. 

had  come  over  her  ;  but  God  suffered  it  not.  We  landed  in 
two  hours,  and  walked  away  to  Gosport. 

Sun.  8. — The  wind  and  rain  drove  us  into  the  Tabernacle.1 
In  the  afternoon  1  preached  in  the  main  street  at  Fareham.  A 
wild  multitude  was  present,  yet  a  few  only  mocked.  The 
greater  part  were  soon  deeply  attentive. 

Mon.  g. —  1  set  out  for  Sussex,  and  in  the  evening  reached 
Rottingdean,  a  village  four  miles  east  of  Brighthelmstone.2 
The  next  day  we  rode  over  the  Downs  to  Rye,  lying  on  the 
top  of  a  round,  fruitful  hill.  I  preached  at  seven  to  a  crowded 
audience,  with  great  enlargement  of  spirit. 

Wed.  ii. — I  rode  to  Rolvenden,  about  ten  miles  from  Rye, 
and  preached  at  five  to  a  large,  serious  congregation.  A  few 
drunkards  stood  in  the  road  at  some  distance,  and  took  some 
pains  to  divert  their  attention  ;  but  it  was  labour  lost. 

Thur.  12. — It  was  a  rainy  morning,  so  that  the  house  con- 
tained the  congregation.  Many  of  them  were  in  tears,  being 
deeply  convinced  that  they  were  as  yet  '  without  God  in  the 
world.'  About  one  I  preached  at  Northiam.  The  house  was 
stowed  as  full  as  possible,  but  still  many  were  constrained  to 
stand  without,  though  it  rained  much.  About  five  in  the 
evening  I  preached  again  at  Rye. 

Fri.  13. — In  the  evening  we  had  a  solemn  season.  After  I 
had  concluded  my  sermon  I  read  over  the  Rules  of  the  Society 
in  the  open  congregation.  The  number  of  those  who  came  at 
five  in  the  morning  showed  that  God  had  touched  many  hearts. 
On  Saturday  evening  many  were  obliged  to  stand  without, 
though  the  wind  was  high  and  extremely  cold. 

Sun.  15. — After  preaching  at  eight  I  rode  again  to  Northiam, 
and  preached  in  Mr.  Stonestreet's  orchard,  to  far  the  largest 
congregation    I    have   seen    in    Sussex.     One   of   Rye,    in    our 

return  thither,  gave  us  a  remarkable  account 3 :  '  Mr.  ,  one 

most  eminent  for  profaneness,  drunkenness,  and  all  manner  of 
wickedness,  when  you  met  the  society  on  Thursday  evening  at 
your  lodgings,  was  curious  to  listen  at  the  window.  The  next 
day  he  surprised  his  company  by  crying  out,  "  I  am  the  greatest 


1  At  Portsmouth.  '  On    Nov.   3,    1767,    the  same  man, 

•  The  Brighton  of  to-day.  apparently,  is  '  exceeding  drunk.' 


Oct.  1768.1  Canterbury  to  Colchester  289 


sinner  on  the  whole  earth."  On  Friday  evening  he  was  wounded 
more  deeply  still,  and  was  at  the  preaching  at  five  in  the 
morning.'  Surely  thus  far  God  has  helped  him  ;  but,  a  thousand 
to  one,  he  will  '  return  as  a  dog  to  his  vomit.' 

Mori.  16. — I  rode  to  Canterbury.  As  we  came  into  the 
city  a  stone  flew  out  of  the  pavement  and  struck  my  inare 
upon  the  leg  with  such  violence  that  she  dropped  down  at  once. 
I  kept  my  seat  till,  in  struggling  to  arise,  she  fell  again  and 
rolled  over  me.  When  she  arose  I  endeavoured  to  rise  too,  but 
found  I  had  no  use  of  my  right  leg  or  thigh  ;  but  an  honest 
barber  came  out,  lifted  me  up,  and  helped  me  into  his  shop. 
Feeling  myself  very  sick,  I  desired  a  glass  of  cold  water,  which 
instantly  gave  me  ease. 

Tues.  17. — I  found  reason  to  rejoice  over  this  little  flock, 
now  free  from  all  divisions  and  offences.  And  on  Saturday  I 
cheerfully  returned  to  London,  after  an  absence  of  near  eight 
months. 

Here  I  rested  four  days,1  and  on  Wednesday  the  25  th  went, 
partly  by  coach,  partly  on  horseback,  to  Maldon. 

Fri.  27. — I  rode  on,  through  an  extremely  pleasant  and 
fruitful  country,  to  Colchester.  I  have  seen  very  few  such  towns 
in  England.  It  lies  on  the  ridge  of  a  hill,  with  other  hills  on 
each  side  which  run  parallel  with  it,  at  a  small  distance.  The 
two  main  streets,  one  running  east  and  west,  the  other  north  and 
south,  are  quite  straight,  the  whole  length  of  the  town,  and  full 
as  broad  as  Cheapside. 

I  preached  at  four  on  St.  John's  Green,  at  the  side  of  a 
high  old  wall  (a  place  that  seemed  to  be  made  on  purpose),2  to 
an  extremely  attentive  audience  ;  and  again  at  eight  in  the 
morning  on  Saturday  the  28th,  and  at  four  in  the  afternoon. 
In  the  hours  between  I  took  the  opportunity  of  speaking  to  the 
members  of  the  society.  In  three  months  here  are  joined 
together  a  hundred  and  twenty  persons.  A  few  of  these  know  in 
whom  they  have  believed,  and  many  are  sensible  of  their  wants. 


1  But  according  to  the  Sermon  Register  '  In     a     letter    to    the    Countess     of 

preached   at    Snowsfields,    at    some   un-  Huntingdon  he  adds:  '  The  people  stood 

named   place   in    London,  and  at    West  on  a  smooth  sloping  ground,  sheltered  by 

Street.      On  the   26th    he   preached   at  the  walls   of  an   old  castle '   {.Life  and 

Wapping,  probably  on  his  way  to  Maldon.  Times,  vol.  i.  p.  399). 

VOL.    IV  l8 


2  go  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Nov.  n&8. 

Sun.  29. — At  eight  the  congregation  was  very  large,  and  I 
believe  God  made  His  word  quick  and  powerful.  At  four  in 
the  afternoon  we  had  a  Moorfields  congregation.  Many  of  the 
baser  sort  stood  at  a  distance  ;  but  they  made  no  disturbance, 
knowing  the  magistrates  are  determined  to  suffer  no  riot  at 
Colchester. 

Mon.  30. — Though  I  was  not  quite  recovered  from  the 
lameness  occasioned  by  the  fall  of  my  horse,  I  made  shift  to 
ride  to  Norwich,  where,  on  the  following  days,  I  had  the 
satisfaction  to  observe  that  the  society  had  not  lessened  (as  I 
had  feared),  but  rather  increased,  since  I  left  them.  And  there 
is  a  probability  they  will  increase  still,  as  they  are  far  more 
established  in  grace.1 

Nov.  3,  Fri. — James  Wheatley  called  upon  me,  and  offered 
me  the  Tabernacle.2  But  whether  to  accept  the  offer  or  not 
I  cannot  tell  ;  this  must  be  maturely  considered.  I  found  all 
this  week  great  liberty  of  spirit ;  and  the  congregations  were 
large  and  attentive.  It  seems  the  time  is  come  when  our  labour 
even  at  Norwich  will  not  be  in  vain.15 

Sun.  5. — We  went  to  St.  Peter's  church,  the  Lord's  Supper 
being  administered  there.  I  scarcely  ever  remember  to  have 
seen  a  more  beautiful  parish  church  4  ;  the  more  so  because  its 
beaut)'  results  not  from  foreign  ornaments,  but  from  the  very 
form  and  structure  of  it.     It  is  very  large,  and  of  an  uncommon 


1  He  preached  in  Norwich  on  the  31st.  preached,  often  with  great  success,  in  the 

2  A  detailed  account  of  the  Tabernacle  Tabernacle.  For  many  years  Methodism 
at  Norwich  is  given  in  Lady  Hunting-  in  the 'Foundery  '  and  Calvinistic  Metho- 
don's  Life,  vol.  ii.  chapters  xlv.  and  xlvi.  dism  in  the  Tabernacle  ran  together  or 
Wheatley,  expelled  by  the  Wesleys  for  im-  side  by  side.  James  Wheatley  finally 
morality  (see  above,  vol.  iii.  p.  532),  re-  leased  the  Tabernacle  to  Lady  Ilunting- 
pented,  and  preached  in  Norwich  so  sue-  don  in  February  1775,  and  died  in  the 
cessfully  that  the  Tabernacle  was  built  for  May  following. 

him.  Later  Whilefield  appeared  on  the  '  On  Nov.  4,  whilst  still  in  Norwich, 
scene.  Wheatley,  who  had  passed  from  the  he  began  a  letter  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Potter, 
extreme  of  contempt  to  the  extreme  of  in  reply  to  his  sermon  on  'The  Pie- 
popularity — a  sinner  turned  saint — again  tended  Inspiration  of  the  Methodists.' 
fell  into  contempt.  John  and  Charles  Wes-  See  Green's  Bibliography,  No.  189,  and 
ley,  Lady  Huntingdon,  Cudworth,  Robin-  Anti- Methodist  Publications,  No.  272. 
son,  Madan,  students  trained  at  Trevecca,  4  With  the  exception  of  St.  Mary 
John  Hook  (grandfather  of  Dr.  Hook  and  Redcliffe  at  Bristol,  St.  Peter's,  Norwich, 
Theodore  Hook).  Toplady,  and  other  was  regarded  as  the  finest  parish  church 
leaders   in    the    Evangelical    movement  in  England. 


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PLAN    OF    THE    LONDON    CIRCUIT,    UNDATED,    IN    JOHN    WESLEY  S    HANDWRITING. 

The  Foundery,  Spitalfields,  Snowsfields,  Wapping,  Wells,  'Chapel'  (West  Street).  Westminster,  and 

Deptford,  giving  also  many  names  oi  the  early  preachers 


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SIMILE    OF    MICHAEL    FENWICK'S    EXPULSION    (WITH    ENDORSEMENT). 

The  justification  for  this  extreme  act  r.f  discipline  is  found  in  one  of  Charles  Wesley's  unpublished 
shorthand  Journal-notes.  Michael  Fenwick  was  fully  restored,  and  died  in  the  odour  of  sanctity  and 
usefulness.     See  above,  page  229. 

293 


Nov.  1758.  With  Mr.  Ber ridge  291 

height,  and  the  sides  are  almost  all  window  ;  so  that  it  has  an 
awful  and  venerable  look,  and,  at  the  same  time,  surprisingly 
cheerful. 

Mon.  6. — A  large  congregation  attended  between  four  and 
five  in  the  morning.  I  set  out  at  six  with  much  comfort,  leaving 
a  settled  and  well-united  society.  I  preached  at  Kenninghall 
about  ten,  and  at  Lakenheath  in  the  evening.  After  resting 
a  day,  on  Wednesday  the  8th  I  went  on  a  hard  day's  journey 
to  Bedford.1 

I  had  designed  to  spend  two  evenings  here,  but  Mr.  Parker 
informing  me  that  Mr.  Berridge  desired  I  would  come  to  him 
as  soon  as  possible,  I  set  out  for  Everton  on  Thursday  the  9th. 
I  found  Mr.  B.  just  taking  horse,  with  whom  I  rode  on,  and  in 
the  evening  preached  at  Wrestlingworth,  in  a  large  church,  well 
filled  with  serious  hearers. 

We  lodged  at  Mr.  Hicks's,  the  vicar,  a  witness  of  the  faith 
which  once  he  persecuted.  The  next  morning  I  preached  in 
his  church  again.  In  the  middle  of  the  sermon  a  woman  before 
me  dropped  down  as  dead,  as  one  had  done  the  night  before. 
In  a  short  time  she  came  to  herself,  and  remained  deeply  sensible 
of  her  want  of  Christ. 

Hence  we  rode  to  Mr.  Berridge's  at  Everton.2  For  many 
years  he  was  seeking  to  be  justified  by  his  works  ;  but  a  few 
months  ago  he  was  thoroughly  convinced  that  '  by  grace '  we 
'are  saved  through  faith.'  Immediately  he  began  to  proclaim 
aloud  the  redemption  that  is  in  Jesus  ;  and  God  confirmed  His 
own  word  exactly  as  He  did  at  Bristol,  in  the  beginning,  by 
working  repentance  and  faith  in  the  hearers,  and  with  the  same 
violent  outward  symptoms. 


1  John  Walsh,  the  sometime  Deist  of  2  Berridge,  whose   labours  were   inti- 

Bedford,  wrote  a  letter  to  Wesley  (see  mately    associated    with   the    MethoUi 

Arm.    Mag.    1 780,    p.    103),    describing  revival,  supplied  an  epitaph  for  himselt 

Bedford    Methodism.       He   had   visited  which  compresses  into  a  few  words  the 

Everton  from  Bedford  on  June  2,   1758  details  of  his  career :   'I  was  born  in  sin, 

(the  letter  is  dated  June  21,  1758).     This  February  1 7 16,  remained  ignorant  of  my 

letter    gives    an    account    of    Berridge,  fallen  state  till  1730.     Lived  piously  on 

'who,'   says   Walsh,    'has   read   several  Faith  and  Works  for  Salvation  till  1754. 

of  your  works,  and  greatly  longs  to  see  Admitted    to    Everton   Vicarage,    1755. 

you.'     Walsh  is  probably  the  writer  of  Fled  to  Jesus  alone   for    Refuge.    1756. 

the  second   account   of  the    Everton  re-  Fell  asleep  in  Christ  [Feb.  22,    1793].' 

vival,  July  29,  1759  (see  below,  p.  333).  See  IV.  M.  Mag.  1906,  p.  388. 


292  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Dec.  1758. 


I  preached  at  six  in  the  evening  and  five  in  the  morning, 
and  some  were  struck,  just  as  at  Wrestlingworth.  One  of  these 
was  brought  into  the  house,  with  whom  we  spent  a  considerable 
time  in  prayer.  I  then  hastened  forward,  and,  a  little  before  it 
was  dark,  reached  the  Foundery.1 

Sun.  26.2 — I  was  well  pleased  to  have  some  conversation  with 

Mrs.   A 1,  lately  come   from   Barbadocs.     She  gave  me  an 

account  of  her  poor  husband  (first  a  red-hot  Predestinarian, 
talking  of  God's  'blowing  whole  worlds  to  hell,'  then  a  Quaker, 
now  a  Deist) ;  as  also  of  the  narrow  escape  which  Mr.  H.  lately 
had  :  '  Ten  negroes  broke  into  his  house  ;  one  of  whom  was 
upon  the  point  of  cutting  his  throat  when  E.  R.  knocked  him 
down  with  a  pewter  pot  ;  which  put  the  rest  into  such  confusion 
that  she  had  time  to  secure  herself  and  her  children,  and  Mr. 
H.  to  leap  out  of  a  balcony.' 3 

Wed.  29. — I  rode  to  Wandsworth,  and  baptized  two  negroes 
belonging  to  Mr.  Gilbert,  a  gentleman  lately  come  from  Antigua.4 
One  of  these  is  deeply  convinced  of  sin,  the  other  rejoices  in 
God  her  Saviour,  and  is  the  first  African  Christian  I  have  known. 
But  shall  not  our  Lord,  in  due  time,  have  these  heathens  also 
1  for  His  inheritance  '? 

Dec.  4,  Mon. — I  was  desired  to  step  into  the  little  church 
behind  the  Mansion  House,  commonly  called  St.  Stephen's, 
Walbrook.8  It  is  nothing  grand,  but  neat  and  elegant  beyond 
expression.  So  that  I  do  not  wonder  at  the  speech  of  the 
famous  Italian  architect,  who  met  Lord  Burlington  in  Italy  : 
'  My  lord,  go  back  and  see  St.  Stephen's  in  London.  Wc  have 
not  so  fine  a  piece  of  architecture  in  Rome.'  c 

1  The    record    of   preaching   for    this       his  chief  favourite.'     The  latter  died  in 
period   in   the    Sermon    Register   is    as      the    West     Indies.      Hall    returned    to 

ollows  :  Thur.,  Nov.  9,  Wrestlingworth ;  England     in     176-,     in     some     degree 

Sat.    the    nth,    Kverton   and    Bull-and-  humbled.     For  H.  J.  Foster's  Notes  on 

Mouth  ;  Fri.  the  17th,  Spilalfields ;  Mon.  this  sordid  but  in  many  respects  remark- 

the  20th,  Zoar  ;  Sat.  the  25th,  Bull-and-  able  case  see    W.H.S.  vol.  v.    pp.   146, 

Mouth,  Snowsfields,  and  Foundery.  211,  239. 

2  On   Sun.    the   26th   he  preached  in  4  See  above,  p.  247. 

'  London.'  5  An  example  of  Sir  Christopher  Wren's 

3  On  Tues.   the  28th  he  preached    at       work  at  his  best. 

Wapping,  on  Thur.  the  30th  at  Wands-  6  On   Tues.  the    5th    he   preached   at 

worth,    and    on    Friday,     Dec.      I,     at  the    Bull-and-Mouth,    on    Fri.    the    8th 

Zoar.     The  references  to  'Mr.   H.'  and  at  Bishop  Bonner's,  and  on  Sat.   the  9th 

'  E.  R.'  are  to  Westley  Hall  and  '  E.  R.,  at  West  Street. 


Dec.  1768.)  From  Ever  ton  to  Nonvich  295 


Fri.  S. — Poor  Mr.  Goudicheau  called  upon  me,  formerly  a 
Romish  priest,  now  ready  to  perish  for  want  of  bread,  though 
of  an  unblemished  character.  Can  any  one  wonder  that  we 
have  not  many  converts  from  the  Church  of  Rome?1 

Mon.  11. — Most  of  this  week  I  spent  in  preparing  materials 
for  A  Survey  of  t/ie  Wisdom  of  God  in  the  Creation  ;  or,  a  full, 
plain,  and  correct  system  of  Natural  Philosophy.2 

Mom.  18. — I  rode  to  Everton.  The  church  was  well  filled 
soon  after  six  in  the  evening.  God  gave  me  great  liberty  of 
speech,  and  applied  His  word  to  the  hearts  of  the  hearers,  many 
of  whom  were  not  able  to  contain  themselves,  but  cried  aloud 
for  mercy. 

Tues.  19. — I  rode  on  to  Lakenheath.  How  surprising  a 
providence  has  been  over  this  little  village  !  Forty  years  ago  a 
poor  man  lived  here  who  walked  with  God,  and  was  the  means 
of  awakening  a  few  others.  When  these  were  nearly  extinct 
Charles  Skelton  came,  awakened  a  few  more,  and  forsook  them.3 
A  year  ago,  one  of  Lakenheath,  seeing  me  pass  through  Thetford, 
desired  me  to  come  and  preach  there.  I  did  so  ;  and  occasionally 
mentioned  to  them  Mr.  Madan,  then  at  Thetford.4  They  went 
over,  and  invited  him  to  Lakenheath,  where,  soon  after,  he 
preached  in  the  church.  The  rector  desired  he  would  help  him 
to  a  curate  :  so  now  they  have  one  that  both  preaches  and  lives 
the  gospel. 

Wed.  20. —  I  rode  to  Norwich.  James  Wheatley  now  repeated 
his  offer  of  the  Tabernacle.  But  I  was  in  no  haste.  I  wanted 
to  consult  my  friends,  and  consider  the  thing  thoroughly.  One 
glaring  objection  to  it  was,  '  The  congregation  there  will  not 
hear  me.'  He  replied,  '  Sir,  you  cannot  tell  that,  unless  you  will 
make  the  trial.'  I  consented  so  to  do,  on  Thursday,  the  21st. 
But  many  declared,  '  No,  he  shall  never  come  into  that  pulpit ' ; 
and  planted  themselves  in  the  way  to  prevent  it.     Hitherto  only 


1  At    this  period    Wesley   was   corre-  two    volumes,    afterwards    expanded   to 

sponding   with    Toplady,    who    was    at  three,   and  finally  to  five.     See  Green's 

Trinity  College,  Dublin.     In  September  Bibliography,  No.  220,  &c. 

Wesley  received  a  letter  from  him  (Tyer-  3  See  above,  p.  93  ;  vol.  iii.  p.  403. 

man,  vol.  ii.   p.   315),   and  on    Dec.    9  '  See   Arm.    Mag.     1779,    p.    536 — a 

Wesley  wrote  to  Toplady  (IV./f.S.  vol.  letter  written  to  Wesley  by  Mr.  Madan 

viii.  p.  12).  on  the  occasion  of  the  increase  of  his 

-  It  was  first  published   in    1763,    in  fortune. 


296  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Dec  nos. 

could  they  go.  I  went  up  and  preached  to  a  large  congregation, 
without  any  let  or  hindrance.  I  preached  there  again  on 
Saturday  evening,  and  again  God  stopped  the  mouths  of  the 
lions. 

Sun.  24. — I  preached  in  the  Tabernacle  at  eight,  to  a  very 
serious  congregation,  and  at  the  Foundery  between  four  and  five. 
About  six  the  Tabernacle  was  thoroughly  filled,  and  mostly 
with  quiet  hearers.  I  saw  none  who  behaved  amiss  but  two 
soldiers,  who  struck  some  that  desired  them  to  be  silent.  But 
they  were  seized  and  carried  to  the  commanding  officer,  who 
ordered  them  to  be  soundly  whipped. 

A/on.  25. — Our  service  began  in  the  Foundery  at  four  ;  in  the 
Tabernacle  at  eight.  God  was  now  especially  pleased  to  make 
bare  His  arm.  There  was  a  great  cry  among  the  people.  Stony 
hearts  were  broke  ;  many  mourners  comforted  ;  many  believers 
strengthened.  Prejudice  vanished  away  ;  a  few  only  kept  their 
fierceness  till  the  afternoon.  One  of  these,  still  vehemently 
angry,  planted  himself  just  over  against  me.  But  before  I 
concluded,  he  cried  out,  '  I  am  overcome  !     I  am  overcome  ! ' 

Having  now  weighed  the  matter  thoroughly,  I  yielded  to  the 
importunity  of  our  brethren.  So  in  the  evening  the  copy  of 
the  lease  was  perfected,  which  was  executed  the  next  morning. 
A  whole  train  of  providences  so  plainly  concurred  thereto,  that 
all  might  clearly  see  the  hand  of  God. 

Tues.  26. —  I  took  my  leave  of  Norwich  for  the  present; 
about  noon  preached  at  Kenninghall,  and  in  the  evening  came 
to  Lakenheath.  Being  informed  some  of  the  gentry  in  the  town 
were  very  desirous  to  hear  me  preach  if  I  would  preach  in  the 
church,  I  sent  them  word  I  had  designed  to  be  at  Colchester  the 
next  day  ;  but,  as  they  desired  it,  I  would  delay  my  journey, 
and  preach  at  ten  the  next  morning. 

Wed.  27. — I  was  so  much  out  of  order  that  I  knew  not  how 
I  should  get  to  church.  Between  nine  and  ten  I  was  informed 
that  some  hot  men  in  the  parish  would  not  consent  to  my 
preaching  there.  I  saw  the  hand  of  God,  and  was  thankful, 
having  now  a  little  more  time  to  rest.  In  the  afternoon  the  sun 
broke  out  through  the  fog,  and  we  had  a  pleasant  ride  to  Bury  ; 
but  I  was  so  extremely  sick,  soon  after  I  came  in,  that  I  knew 
not  how  I  should  be  able  to  preach.     An  hour's  sleep,  however, 


D«C.  1758.' 


In  Essex  297 


refreshed  me  much  ;  so  that  I  found  no  want  of  strength  in 
preaching.  Indeed  my  disorder  increased  during  the  night  ; 
but  while  I  was  preaching  in  the  morning  I  felt  myself  well, 
and  I  found  no  more  sickness  or  complaint  of  any  kind.  In  the 
evening  I  reached  Colchester. 

Fri.  29. — I  found  the  society  had  decreased  since  L[awrence] 
C[oughlan]  '  went  away  ;  and  yet  they  had  had  full  a?  good 
preachers.  But  that  is  not  sufficient.  By  repeated  experiments 
we  learn  that,  though  a  man  preach  like  an  angel,  he  will  neither 
collect,  nor  preserve  a  society  which  is  collected,  without  visiting 
them  from  house  to  house. 

To-day  I  walked  all  over  the  famous  castle,  perhaps  the 
most  ancient  building  in  England.  A  considerable  part  of  it  is, 
without  question,  fourteen  or  fifteen  hundred  years  old.  It  was 
mostly  built  with  Roman  bricks,  each  of  which  is  about  two 
inches  thick,  seven  broad,  and  thirteen  or  fourteen  long.  Seat 
of  ancient  kings,  British  and  Roman,  once  dreaded  far  and  near  ! 
But  what  are  they  now  ?  Is  not  '  a  living  dog  better  than  a 
dead  lion  '  ?  And  what  is  it  wherein  they  prided  themselves,  as 
do  the  present  great  ones  of  the  earth  ? 

A  little  pomp,  a  little  sway, 
A  sunbeam  in  a  winter's  day, 
Is  all  the  great  and  mighty  have 
Between  the  cradle  and  the  grave ! 2 

Sat.  30. — I  returned  to  London,  and  received  a  pressing 
letter  from  Bristol,  in    consequence   of  which  I    took  horse  on 


1  This  Irish  preacher  dates   from   an  asking  Wesley's  advice  as  to  his  future, 

early  period.     Atmore  describes  him  as  For  a  short  time  he  was  minister  of  the 

'  a  deeply  pious  man,  and  a  very  lively,  chapel  at  Holywell  Mount,  London.     He 

zealous  preacher   .    .    .    owned  of  God,  earnestly  desired  to  resume  his  place  as 

especially   at   Colchester.'     In    1764  he  an  itinerant  preacher ;  but  one  day,  whilst 

was  '  ordained,  with  some  other  Metho-  conversing  with  Wesley  in  his  study,  he 

dist  preachers,  by  a  Greek  bishop  .   .  .  was  seized  with  paralysis,  and  so  ended 

on  which  account,  I  am  informed,'  says  his  useful  life.      His  biography  would  be 

Atmore,    'he   was   put    away   from   the  an  interesting  study  from  the  ecclesiastical, 

Methodist  connexion.'     In  1768  '  he  pro-  pioneer     missionary,    and    experimental 

cured    ordination    from    the    Bishop   of  points  of  view. 

London,  and  was  sent  as  a  missionary  to  2  From  John  Dyer's  Grongar  Hill.     In 

Newfoundland.'      In    1772   he   wrote   a  line  1  'pomp  'should  be  'rule';  inline 

remarkable  letter   to  Weslev  describing  3    'great'  should  be  'proud'  (W.l/.S. 

his  work,  claiming  to  be  r.  'Methodist,'  vol.  v.  p.  116).     Also  quoted,  and  again 

announcing  his  return  to  England,  and  inexactly,  Aug.  19,  1760. 


298  John   Wesley  s  Journal  uan.  1759. 

Monday  morning,1  JANUARY  1,  1759,  and  came  thither  the  next 
evening.  After  resting  two  days  (only  preaching  morning  and 
evening)  I  examined  severally  the  members  of  the  society. 
This  was  one  great  end  of  my  coming  down.  Another  was, 
to  provide  for  the  poor.2  Accordingly,  on  Sunday  the  7th  1 
preached  a  sermon  for  them,  to  which  God  was  pleased  to  give 
His  blessing  ;  so  that  the  collection  was  a  great  deal  more  than 
double  of  what  it  used  to  be.3 

Wed.  10. — Having  finished  my  work  at  Bristol,  I  rode  to 
Salisbury,  and  advised  our  brethren  concerning  the  preaching- 
house  which  they  are  about  to  build.4  On  Friday  the  12th 
I  went  on  to  Whitchurch,  and  preached  at  one  to  a  large  and 
serious  congregation.  In  the  afternoon  we  rode  to  Basingstoke, 
where  the  people  put  me  in  mind  of  the  wild  beasts  at  Ephesus. 
Yet  they  were  unusually  attentive  in  the  evening,  although 
many  of  them  could  not  hear. 

Sat.  13. — After  preaching  to  a  small,  serious  company,  I 
went  on  to  London.5 

Sat.  27.  —  I  began  reading,  with  huge  expectation,  a  tract 
wrote  by  a  son-in-law  of  the  great  Bengelius,  Mr.  Oetinger, 
De  Sensu  Communi  et  Rationed     But  how  was  I  disappointed  ! 


'  On   Sun.  Dec.   31,   he  preached   at  ■  The  Sermon   Register  gives  Bristol 

Spitalfields,   Snowsfields,  the   Bull-and-  and  Kingswood  as  his  appointments  for 

Mouth,  and  the  Foundery.  Sunday,  Jan.  7. 

2  He  does  not  say  that  these  were  the  *  And  preached  there, 
only  reasons  for  this  sudden  journey  to  6  Where,  on  Sunday,  Jan.  14,  he 
Bristol.  Probably  the  letter  summoning  preached  at  the  Foundery  and  West 
him  was  from  Lady  Huntingdon,  who  Street,  and  on  Mon.  the  15th  at  Wapping; 
was  staying  at  Bath  with  Lady  Fanny  on  Thur.  the  iSth  at  the  Bull-and-Mouth 
Shirley  and  Lady  Selina  Hastings.  '  On  and  Zoar  ;  Fri.  the  19th  again  at  the 
the  4th  of  January  the  Countess  went  to  Bull-and-Mouth  ;  Sat.  the  20th,  Spital- 
Bristol  to  meet  Mr.  Wesley,  who  accom-  fields  ;  Sun.  the  2ist,  at  the  Foundery 
panied  her  to  Bath,  and,  after  preaching  and  Spitalfields  ;  Tues.  the  23rd,  at 
to  several  of  the  nobility  at  her  house,  Deptford  and  Welling  ;  and  Thur.  the 
proceeded  to  Salisbury,  on  his  way  to  25th,  at  Bishop  Bonner's. 
London.'  It  was  at  this  time  that  Lady  u  On  Common  Sense  and  Reason.  The 
Huntingdon  'felt  a  particular  call  in  author,  F.  C.  Oetinger,  or  Ottinger,  was 
Providence  to  wrestle  mightily  with  God  a  German  Pietist  theologian,  who  wrote 
on  behalf  of  our  nation.'  It  is  not  un-  commentaries  on  the  Scriptures,  &c.  He 
reasonable  to  suppose  that  her  letter  to  translated  several  of  the  works  of  Sweden- 
Wesley  and  their  consultation  referred  borg,  and  was  a  friend  of  Zinzendorf. 
to  the  scheme  of  prayer-meetings  held  (Vaughan's  Hours  with  the  Mystics, 
during  February.     (See  below,  Feb.  27.)  vol.  ii.  p.  305  ;   W.H.S.  vol.  iv.  p.  134.) 


Feb.  1759.: 


In  London  299 


So  obscure  a  writer  I  scarce  ever  saw  before  ;  I  think  he  goes 
beyond  Persius  himself.  When  I  had  with  huge  labour  read 
fifty  or  sixty  pages,  finding  the  sense  did  by  no  means  make 
amends  for  the  time  and  pains  bestowed  in  searching  it  out, 
I  took  my  leave  of  him  for  ever.1 

FEB.  3,  Sat. — I  spent  an  hour  with  one  who,  by  the  loss 
of  his  sight,  his  fortune,  and  his  liberty  (for  he  has  been  a 
prisoner  some  time),  is  likely  to  gain  more  than  all  the  world 
can  give. 

Tuts.  6. — I  took  much  pains  to  convince  Mr.  S n  -  that 

he  was  not  the  wisest  man  in  the  world ;  but  I  could  not 
change  the  Ethiopian's  skin.  Yet  even  this  is  not  too  hard 
for  God. 

Fri.  9. — I  felt  suddenly  as  if  a  needle  had  been  run  into  the 
side  of  my  face.  I  supposed  it  would  be  well  by  the  morning, 
but  found  it  abundantly  worse,  the  tonsil  being  come  down  (as 
they  term  it),  and  the  side  of  my  face  much  swelled.  It  grew 
worse  all  day,  so  that  it  was  with  great  difficulty  I  preached  at 
Snowsfields  in  the  evening;  but  on  Sunday  the  nth  it  went 
away  as  unaccountably  as  it  came.  In  the  afternoon  I  called 
on  E[lisabeth]  H[arland]  in  St.  George's  Hospital.  Many 
there  had  been  greatly  prejudiced  against  me  ;  but  it  was 
now  vanished  away.  Her  behaviour  had  reconciled  them 
quite  ;  and  all  in  the  ward  (sixty  or  seventy  persons)  seemed 
hardly  to  breathe  all  the  time  I  was  speaking  and  praying 
by  her  bedside. 

Tues.  13. — I  preached  at  Deptford  and  Welling,  and  in  the 
morning  rode  to  Wandsworth.3  I  preached,  Wednesday  and 
Thursday  evening,  in  the  town  ;  in  the  mornings  at  Mr.  Gilbert's. 
Will  this  barren  tree  bear  fruit  at  last?  How  long  has  God 
had  patience  with  it ! 

Fri.    16. — Being   the    Public    Fast,4    I    preached    at   five  in 


1  On  Wednesday,  Jan.  31,  he  preached  worth  as  his  appointments  for  Wednesday 

at   the    Bull-and-Mouth  ;    on    Saturday,  the  14th  and  Thursday  the  15th  ;  and  on 

Feb.  3,  he  was  preaching  at  Spitalfields ;  Friday    the    16th    Spitalfields    and    the 

on    Monday   the   5th   at    the    Bull-and-  Foundery,  also  on  Sunday  the  18th. 
Mouth  ;  and  Tuesday  the  6th  at  West-  '  It  was  a  time  of  national  panic.     A 

minster.  French  invasion  was  threatened.   Charles 

-'  Probably  his  old  friend,  Mr.  Simpson.  Wesley,  writing   to   his   wife,   expressed 

*  The  Sermon  Register  enters  Wands-  the   general   belief.       His  brother  John 


300  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [March  1759. 

Wandsworth  ;  at  nine  and  three  in  the  church  at  Spitalfields  ; 
and  at  half-hour  past  eight  in  the  Foundery.1  Every  place 
of  public  worship  was  crowded  on  this,  as  on  the  two  preceding 
fast-days ;  and  it  is  plain  even  outward  humiliation  has  been 
a  means  of  outward  blessings. 

Fri.  23. —  I  saw  a  surprising  spectacle  :  one  who,  by  a  blow, 
first  lost  her  nose,  then  one  eye,  and  then  the  other,  with  most 
of  the  roof  of  her  mouth,  and  yet,  instead  of  murmuring, 
acknowledges  the  love  of  God  in  all,  and  praises  Him 
continually.2 

Tues.  27. —  I  walked  with  my  brother  and  Mr.  Maxfield  to 
L[ady]  H[untingdon]'s.  After  breakfast  came  in  Mr.  White- 
field,  Madan,  Romaine,  Jones,  Downing,  and  Venn,  with  some 
persons  of  quality,  and  a  few  others.  Mr.  Whitefield,  I  found, 
was  to  have  administered  the  sacrament ;  but  he  insisted  upon 
my  doing  it.  After  which,  at  the  request  of  L[ady]  Huntingdon], 
I  preached  on  1  Cor.  xiii.  13.  Oh  what  are  the  greatest  men 
to  the  great  God  !     As  the  small  dust  of  the  balance.3 

MARCH,  Thur.  1. — I  reached  Everton  about  four  in  the 
afternoon  ;  but  Mr.  Berridge  did  not  expect  me  till  the  next 
day,  so  he  thought  it  best  I  should  preach  in  his  house.  The 
next  evening  the  church  was  well  filled,  and  my  mouth  was 
filled  with  arguments,  which  I  trust  God  applied  for  the 
conviction  of  some  and  the  consolation  of  others.4 


was  '  alarmed  by  false  intelligence  that  her  ladyship's  house,  when  Mr.  Wesley, 

ve  have  only  eleven  thousand  soldiers  Mr.  Venn,  and  Mr.  Madan  engaged  in 

in  all  England."     Charles  Wesley  wrote  the  solemn  service,  which  was  closed  by 

eight  hymns  for  use  in  the  meetings  held  a  short  exhortation  from  Mr.  White6eld.' 

for    prayer.     One    only    has   survived :  Charles   Wesley  gave    the    address    on 

'  Come,  Thou  Conqueror  of  the  Nations.'  Friday  evening  (C  of  Huntingdon,  vol.  i. 

Lady  Huntingdon  held  prayer-meetings  p.  396).     See  Charles  Wesley's  graphic 

in  her  own   house  (see  above,  Feb.  27).  account  of  this  prayer-meeting  in  a  letter 

Hawke's  signal  victory  on  Nov.  20  ended  to  his  wife  (Journal,  vol.  ii.  p.  219). 
the  panic.  '  A    week   later,    apparently,    Wesley 

1  Lady   Huntingdon   (who  had    been  wrote   to   the   Countess.     The   letter   is 

to     the    Tabernacle    in     the     morning,  published  in  her  Life  (vol.  i.  pp.  398-9). 

where  Whitefield  addressed  an  immense  He  refers  to  the  '  instruments  God  lately 

congregation),    was    at    this    Foundery  raised  up ' — Romaine,  Madan,  Berridge, 

service.  &c.     '  But   still    there   is — I    know   not 

-  On  Saturday  the  24th  he  preached  what — in  them  whom   we   have  known 

at  Spitalfields.  from  the  beginning  .   .   .  which  we  do 

3  '  On  Wednesday  evening  (the  28th)  not  find  in   those   who  have  but  lately 

the   usual    prayer- meeting    was   held   at  conic    into  the   harvest.'     He   describes 


March  1759.1  The  Norwich  Society  301 


Sat.  3. — We  had  a  mild,  delightful  day,  and  a  pleasant 
ride  to  Colchester.  In  the  evening,  and  on  Sunday  morning, 
the  house  contained  the  congregation  tolerably  well  ;  but  in 
the  afternoon  I  was  obliged  to  go  out,  and  I  suppose  we  had 
on  St.  John's  Green  five  or  six  times  as  many  as  the  room 
would  contain.     Such  is  the  advantage  of  field-preaching. 

Man.  5. — On  examining  the  society  I  found  that,  out  of 
the  hundred  and  twenty-six  members  I  had  left  in  October, 
we  had  lost  only  twelve,  in  the  place  of  whom  we  have 
gained  forty  ;  and  many  of  these  whom  we  left  in  sorrow  and 
heaviness  are  now  rejoicing  in  God  their  Saviour. 

Tues.  6. — I  rode  to  Norwich. 

Wed.  7. — I  inquired  into  the  state  of  affairs  at  the  Taber- 
nacle, and  found  the  society,  once  consisting  of  many  hundred 
members,  was  mouldered  into  nothing.  Of  the  fifteen  or  sixteen 
hundred  subscribers,  not  twenty,  not  one,  was  left ;  but  every  one 
that  pleased  went  into  the  galleries  without  any  questions  asked. 
So  that  everything  was  to  be  wrought  out  of  the  ore,  or  rather 
out  of  the  cinders.  Surely  whatever  help  is  done  here,  God  must 
do  it  Himself. 

In  the  evening  I  desired  that  those  who  were  willing  to  join 
in  a  society  would  speak  with  me  the  next  evening.  About 
twenty  did  so  ;  but  the  greater  part  of  these  appeared  like 
frightened  sheep ;  and  no  marvel,  when  they  had  been  so  long 
accustomed  to  hear  all  manner  of  evil  of  me. 

Fri.  9. — I  preached  morning  and  evening  at  the  Foundery.1 
How  pleasing  would  it  be  to  flesh  and  blood  to  remain  in  this 
little  quiet  place,  where  we  have  at  length  weathered  the  storm  ! 
Nay,  I  am  not  to  consult  my  own  ease,  but  the  advancing  the 
kingdom  of  God. 

On  Saturday  and  Sunday  about  forty  more  gave  in  their 
names.  On  Sunday,  in  the  afternoon,  I  met  the  society,  after 
ordering  the  doors  to  be  shut,  which  they  had  not  been  for  two 
years  before.     Thirty  or  forty  more  spoke  to  me  on   Monday. 


Berridge,  whom  he  has  just  left  :  '  He  Mr.    Blackwell     (see    new    edition     of 

speaks  as  plain  and  home  as  John  Nelson,  Wesley  Letters,  where  several  additional 

but    with    all     the     propriety    of    Mr.  letters  will  be  found). 

Romaine    and    the    tenderness    of    Mr.  '  i.e.  the  Foundery  in  Norwich.     See 

Hervey.'     On  March  2  he  also  wrote  to  above,  pp.  107,  290. 


302  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [March  1709. 


I  think  two-thirds  of  those  I  have  yet  seen  have  had  a  clear 
sense  of  God's  pardoning  love.  Doth  He  not  'send  by  whom  He 
will  send  '  ? ' 

Sun.  1 8. —  I  administered  the  Lord's  Supper  to  near  two 
hundred  communicants.  So  solemn  a  season  I  never  remember 
to  have  known  in  the  city  of  Norwich.  As  a  considerable 
part  of  them  were  Dissenters,  I  desired  every  one  to  use 
what  posture  he  judged  best.  Had  I  required  them  to  kneel, 
probably  half  would  have  sat.     Now  all  but  one  kneeled  down. 

Finding  it  was  needful  to  see  them  once  more  at  Colchester, 
I  took  horse  between  four  and  five  in  the  morning.  The  frost 
was  extremely  sharp  for  some  hours  ;  it  was  then  a  fair,  mild 
day.  About  two  in  the  afternoon  it  began  to  rain  ;  but  we 
reached  Colchester  before  we  were  wet  through.  The  room  was 
more  than  filled  in  the  evening,  so  that  many  were  obliged  to  go 
away. 

Wed.  21. — I  baptized  seven  adults,  two  of  them  by  immersion; 
and  in  the  evening  (their  own  ministers  having  cast  them  out  for 
going  to  hear  the  Methodists)  I  administered  the  Lord's  Supper 
to  them,  and  many  others,  whom  their  several  teachers  had 
repelled  for  the  same  reason. 

Thur.  22. — Before  we  set  out  the  rough  north  wind  fell  and 
we  had  a  calm,  sunshiny  day.  I  preached  in  the  Tabernacle  at 
Norwich  in  the  evening. 

Sun.  25. — I  rode  to  Forncett,  twelve  miles  from  Norwich, 
where  also  was  a  building  of  James  Wheatley's,  which,  without 
my  desire,  he  had  included  in  the  lease.  We  found  William 
Cudworth 2    had   preached  there   in   the   morning.      It  was  ex- 


1  On    Monday   the   12th    he  wrote  to  Wesley,  vol.  i.  p.  482.     As  Stevens,  in 

Blackwell     concerning    his    wife,     with  his  History  of  Methodism  (vol.  i.  p.  372), 

whom  for  the  present  he  was  upon  fairly  truly  says  :  '  William  Cudworth  .  .  .  was 

good  terms ;  also  respecting  his  work  in  chiefly  responsible  for   Hervey's  aliena- 

Norwich — '  the    most   critical '    he    had  tion  from  the  Wesleys.      It  was  at  his 

ever  bad.     '  I  am  endeavouring  to  gather  instigation   that   the  unfortunate   Eleven 

up    those   who   were   once  gathered  to-  Letters  were  published.     Hervey  died  in 

gether,  and  afterwards  scattered,  by  James  1758-     As  his  end  approached  he  directed 

Wheatley'  {Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  187).  that     the    MS.     of    this   work     should 

-  Wesley's  opinion  of  Cudworth   was  be   destroyed.       His   brother,   however, 

diametrically  opposed  to  Lady  Hunting-  judged    that    it   would   be    a    desirable 

don's.      See    Lady    Huntingdon's    Life,  pecuniary  speculation  to  publish  it,  and 

vol.  ii.    p.   338,    and   Tyerman's  Life  oj  placed  it  in  the  hands  of  Cudworth  to  be 


April  1769.;  Interviezv  ivilh  Cudivorth  303 

ceeding  good  for  my  sense  of  honour  to  come  just  after  him. 
The  people  looked  as  direful  upon  me  as  if  it  had  been 
Satan  in  person.  However,  they  flocked  from  all  parts,  so 
that  the  Tabernacle  would  not  near  contain  them.  I  preached 
about  two.  God  bare  witness  to  His  truth,  and  many  were  cut 
to  the  heart.  After  preaching  I  found  Mr.  Cudworth  sitting  in 
the  pulpit  behind  mc,  whom  I  quietly  and  silently  passed  by. 
About  six  I  preached  at  the  Tabernacle  in  Norwich,  crowded 
with  attentive  hearers.  Perhaps  these  too  will  be  brought  into 
order  by-and-by  ;  hitherto  there  has  been  no  king  in  Israel. 

Monday  and  Tuesday  I  spoke  to  as  many  of  both  societies,1 
now  united  together,  as  had  leisure  and  inclination  to  come.  The 
whole  number  is  about  four  hundred  and  twenty  ;  of  whom  I  do 
not  think  it  improbable  two  hundred  may  continue  together. 

Tues.  27. — I  had  an  interview  with  Mr.  Cudworth.  I 
observed  upon  the  whole  (1)  that  his  opinions  are  all  his  own, 
quite  new,  and  his  phrases  as  new  as  his  opinions  ;  (2)  that  all 
these  opinions,  yea,  and  phrases  too,  he  affirms  to  be  necessary 
to  salvation  ;  maintaining  that  all  who  do  not  receive  them 
worship  another  God  ;  and  (3)  that  he  is  as  incapable  as  a  brute 
beast  of  being  convinced  even  in  the  smallest  point. 

Wed.  28. — I  rode  over  to  Forncett  again,  and  preached  to 
a  large  congregation.  Great  part  of  them  were  now  exceedingly 
softened  ;  but  some  were  still  bitter  as  wormwood.  In  the 
evening  we  had  another  kind  of  congregation  at  the  Foundery, 
by  whom  I  was  much  comforted  ;  but  much  more  in  meeting 
the  bands,  when  all  our  hearts  were  melted  down  by  the  power 
of  God. 

Thur.  29. — I  divided  the  Norwich  society  into  classes,  with- 
out any  distinction  between  them  who  had  belonged  to  the 
Foundery  or  the  Tabernacle.2 


finished,  giving  him  liberty  '  to  put  out  one  who  had  sustained  friendly  relations 

and  put  in  '  whatever  he  judged  expedient.  to  him.' 

Cudworth's   Antinomian   sentiments  led  '  That    is,    this    Tabernacle    and    the 

him   to   abhor   Wesley's   opinions.     He  Foundery.     See  above,  p.  290. 

caricatured   them   relentlessly  by  his  in-  "  This  is    the   date   of  an    interesting 

terpolations  of  Hervey's  pages,  and  sent  letter   to    \V.     Alwood    concerning   the 

forth   in    Hervey's   name    the   first    and  Peaseholme  Green  chapel  at  York,  then 

most  reckless  and  odious  caveat  against  in  course  of  erection — first  published,  witli 

Methodism  that  ever  emanated  from  any  notes,  in  W.H.S.  vol.  iii.p.  181. 


304  John   Wesley  s  Journal  Aprui759. 

April  i,  Sun. — I  met  them  all  at  six,  requiring  every  one  to 
show  his  ticket  when  he  came  in — a  thing  they  had  never  heard 
of  before.  I  likewise  insisted  on  another  strange  regulation, 
that  the  men  and  women  should  sit  apart.  A  third  was  made 
the  same  day.  It  had  been  a  custom,  ever  since  the  Tabernacle 
was  built,  to  have  the  galleries  full  of  spectators  while  the  Lord's 
Supper  was  administered.  This  I  judged  highly  improper,  and 
therefore  ordered  none  to  be  admitted  but  those  who  desired  to 
communicate.  And  I  found  far  less  difficulty  than  I  expected 
in  bringing  them  to  submit  to  this  also. 

The  society  now  contained  above  five  hundred  and  seventy 
members,  a  hundred  and  three  of  whom  were  in  no  society 
before,  although  many  of  them  had  found  peace  with  God.  I 
believe  they  would  have  increased  to  a  thousand  if  I  could  have 
stayed  a  fortnight  longer.  Which  of  these  will  hold  fast  their 
profession  ?  The  fowls  of  the  air  will  devour  some,  the  sun  will 
scorch  more,  and  others  will  be  choked  by  the  thorns  springing 
up.  I  wonder  we  should  ever  expect  that  half  of  those  who 
'  hear  the  word  with  joy  '  will  bring  forth  fruit  unto  perfection. 

Mon.  2. — I  left  Norwich,  and  about  seven  o'clock  came  to 
Cross-keys  Wash.  They  would  fain  have  persuaded  us  we 
could  not  pass  ;  but,  finding  we  were  resolved  to  try,  our  guide 
put  forward,  and  brought  us  over  in  half  an  hour  ;  so  that  about 
eight  we  reached  Sutton,  and  found  a  quiet,  civil  house,  with 
everything  we  wanted. 

Tues.  3. — We  came  to  Fossdykc  Wash  just  time  enough  to 
pass.  At  three  in  the  afternoon  I  preached  at  Boston.  A  rude 
multitude  quickly  ran  together  to  a  paddock  adjoining  to  the 
town.  A  more  unawakened  congregation  I  have  not  seen  for 
some  years.  However,  the  far  greater  part  were  attentive,  nor 
did  any  interrupt  or  offer  the  least  rudeness. 

At  seven  I  met  the  little  society  in  the  house,  but  they 
were  the  least  part  of  the  company.  People  crowded  in  from 
all  sides  ;  and  I  believe  God  touched  most  of  their  hearts. 

Wed.  4. — At  six,  finding  the  house  would  not  contain  one- 
fourth  of  the  congregation,  I  was  constrained  to  stand  in  the 
street.  Abundance  of  people  assembled  together,  whom  I  ex- 
horted to  '  repent  and  believe  the  gospel.'  The  word  of  God  fell 
heavy  upon  them,  and,  I  trust,  broke  some  of  the  stony  hearts. 


April  1759.) 


In  Lincolnshire  305 


Hence  we  rode  over  the  Fens,  fifteen  miles  broad  and  near 
thirty  miles  long,  to  Coningsby,  where  we  found  a  numerous 
congregation  of  a  far  different  spirit.  Scarce  one  of  these  but 
had  tasted,  more  or  less,  '  of  the  powers  of  the  world  to  come.' 
After  a  comfortable  opportunity  here  we  rode  on  to  Horncastle.1 
We  were  but  roughly  saluted  at  our  entrance,  and  the  mob 
increased  more  and  more  till  six.  I  then  began  to  preach  in 
a  yard  near  the  market-place  to  a  large  concourse  of  people. 
But  their  behaviour  quite  disappointed  us ;  for  there  was  no 
tumult,  no  noise,  but  an  earnest  attention  through  the  whole 
congregation. 

Tliur.  5. — 1  preached  again  at  seven  to  nearly  the  same 
congregation,  and  was  again  refreshed  by  the  remarkable 
decency  and  seriousness  of  their  behaviour.  At  four  in  the 
afternoon  I  preached  at  Mareham-on-the-hill,  two  miles  from 
Horncastle.  The  number  of  people  constrained  me  to  preach 
without,  and  the  rain  to  shorten  my  sermon  ;  though  none  went 
away.  Indeed  I  believe  none  were  present  who  had  not  known 
some  work  of  grace  in  their  hearts. 

Fri.  6. — We  rode  over  the  Wolds  (a  chain  of  hills)  to  North 
Elkington,  three  miles  from  Louth.  The  congregation  was 
large,  notwithstanding  the  rain,  which  drove  full  in  our  face  till 
we  came  to  Grimsby. 

Sun.  8. — The  house  was  pretty  well  filled  at  eight.  At  two 
I  was  obliged  to  go  into  the  old  churchyard,  where  was  such 
a  concourse  of  people  as  had  hardly  ever,  they  said,  been  seen 
at  Grimsby  before.  As  many  as  the  room  would  well  contain 
were  present  at  the  watch-night,  and  at  seven  in  the  morning. 
I  then  commended  them  to  the  grace  of  God. 

Mon.  9. — I  preached  in  the  evening  at  Laceby,  the  next 
afternoon  at  Ferry  (after  riding  through  much  water  and  con- 
tinued rain),  and  in  the  evening  in  the  new  house  at  Epworth.2 

Fri.    13. — Having  appointed    to  preach    at    Alkborough    at 


1  Mr.    Marshall,     of    Kirkby-on-the-  1895  ;   letter  of  Erasmus  Middleton   to 

Bain,    stood    by    Wesley    in    the    town  John  Wesley,  Horncastle,  Feb.  27,  1762 

street  of  Horncastle  when  the  mob  was  (Arm.  Mag.  178 1,  p.  338). 

violent,  but  whether  on  this  or  another  '  He  had  preached  in  the  'shell  of  the 

early  visit  we  do  not  know.     See  notices  new  house'  on  March  13,  1758,  when,  as 

of  his  grandson  in   Church  Record,  Jan.  now.  there  was  a  'great  rain.' 


306  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [April  1759. 

one,  I  set  out  between  seven  and  eight.  I  was  in  hopes  of 
coming  thither  before  church  began  ;  but  I  did  not  consider  the 
Lincolnshire  roads.  With  some  difficulty  we  reached  it  before 
noon,  and  found  there  was  no  service  at  the  church.  I  preached 
in  the  churchyard  at  one  to  a  listening  multitude,  most  of 
whom,  I  suppose,  had  never  heard  this  kind  of  preaching  before. 
Many  of  them  were  in  tears,  and  pressed  after  me  into  the  house 
where  we  met  the  society.  I  could  not  but  hope  that  some  of 
these  will  press  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 

Returning  thence,  I  called  on  Mr.  Romley,1  of  Burton,  one 
of  my  former  parishioners,  a  lively,  sensible  man  of  eighty- 
three  years  old,  by  whom  I  was  much  comforted.  An  hour 
or  two  after  we  took  boat,  but  could  not  cross  over.  The 
violence  of  the  stream,  swollen  by  the  late  rains,  bore  us  down 
in  spite  of  all  we  could  do.  Having  striven  against  it  a  con- 
siderable time,  we  were  obliged  to  cast  anchor.  After  waiting 
some  time,  we  got  near  the  shore  and  were  towed  up  to  the 
place  of  landing.  A  toilsome  day  was  followed  by  a  comfort- 
able night.  At  half-hour  after  eight  the  house  at  Epworth  was 
well  filled,  and  most  of  the  congregation  stayed  till  the  whole 
service  was  concluded. 

It  was  on  this  day  that,  after  the  battle  of  Bergen,  in 
Germany2 — 

Among  the  many  wounded  who  were  brought  into  Frankfort-on-the- 
Main,  there  was  the  Right  Honourable  George  Charles  Dykern,  Baron, 
Lieutenant-General  of  the  Saxon  troops  in  the  service  of  the  King  of 
Fiance.  He  was  born  of  an  ancient  and  noble  family  in  Silesia  on 
April  10,  17 10,  so  that  it  was  just  on  his  birthday  he  received  his 
wound.  He  was  of  equal  abilities  as  a  minister  in  the  closet  and  a 
general  in  the  field.  In  his  younger  years  he  had  gone  through  a 
regular  course  of  study  in  the  University,  and  made  great  proficiency  in 
philosophy,  especially  in  mathematics.  Afterwards  he  studied  polemic 
divinity  till  he  reasoned  himself  into  an  infidel.  During  his  illness  he 
showed  not  the  least  desire  of  pious  company  or  serious  discourse  till 
the  surgeon  let  his  valet  de  chambre  know  that  he  could  not  live  long. 
The  man  then  asked  his  master  whether  he  did  not  choose  to  be  visited 
by  a  clergyman.     He  answered  with  warmth,  '  I  shall  not  trouble  those 


'  The  father  of  the  curate  who  refused       written  by  Dr.  Fresenius,  who  was  senior 
Wesley  the  sacrament  in  Epworth  Church.       of  the  clergy  at  Frankfort,  for  whom  see 
-  The    account    which     follows     was       above,  vol.  iii.  p.  273. 


April  1759.) 


A  Narrative  307 


gentlemen  ;  I  know  well  myself  what  to  believe  and  do.'  His  man, 
not  discouraged,  continued  thus  :  '  My  lord,  have  you  ever  found  me 
wanting  in  my  duty  all  the  time  I  have  been  in  your  service?'  He 
answered,  '  No.'  '  Then,'  replied  he,  '  I  will  not  be  wanting  now. 
The  surgeons  count  you  past  hopes  of  recovery,  but  every  one  is  afraid 
to  tell  you  so.  You  stand  upon  the  brink  of  eternity.  Pray,  sir,  order 
a  clergyman  to  be  called.'  He  paused  a  little,  but  soon  gave  his  hand 
to  his  servant,  thanked  him  for  his  honesty,  and  ordered  him  to  send 
for  me.1  When  I  came  the  man  told  me  plainly  the  general  was  a 
professed  infidel.  I  went  in,  and,  after  a  short  compliment,  said  :  '  I  am 
told,  my  lord,  your  life  is  near  an  end ;  therefore  I  presume,  without  any 
ceremony,  to  ask  you  one  plain  question  :  Is  the  state  of  your  soul  such 
that  you  can  entertain  a  solid  hope  of  salvation  ?  '  He  answered, 
1  Yes.'  '  On  what  do  you  ground  this  hope  ?  '  He  replied,  '  I  never 
committed  any  wilful  sin.  I  have  been  liable  to  frailties,  but  I  trust  in 
God's  mercy,  and  the  merits  of  His  Son,  that  He  will  have  mercy  upon 
me.'  These  words  he  uttered  very  slowly,  especially  '  the  merits  of  His 
Son.'  I  made  the  following  reply:  'I  am  apt  to  believe  you  are  not 
tainted  with  the  grossest  vices,  but  I  fear  you  a  little  too  presumptuously 
boast  of  never  having  committed  wilful  sin.  If  you  would  be  saved  you 
must  acknowledge  your  being  utterly  corrupted  by  sin,  and  consequently 
deserving  the  curse  of  God  and  eternal  damnation.  As  for  your  hoping 
for  God's  mercy,  through  the  merits  of  His  Son,  I  beg  leave  to  ask,  Do 
you  believe  God  has  a  Son ;  that  His  Son  assumed  our  nature  in  order 
to  be  our  Saviour ;  that,  in  the  execution  of  His  office,  He  was  humbled 
unto  death,  even  the  death  upon  the  cross ;  and  that  hereby  He  has 
given  an  ample  satisfaction  for  us  and  recovered  our  title  to  heaven  ? ' 
He  answered,  '  I  cannot  now  avoid  a  more  minute  description  of  the 
true  state  of  my  soul.  Let  me  tell  you,  doctor,  I  have  some  knowledge 
of  philosophy,  by  which  I  have  chosen  for  myself  a  way  of  salvation.  I 
have  always  endeavoured  to  live  a  sober  life  to  the  uttermost  of  my 
power,  not  doubting  but  the  Being  of  all  beings  would  then  graciously 
accept  me.  In  this  way  I  stood  in  no  need  of  Christ,  and  therefore  did 
not  believe  on  Him.  But  if  I  take  the  Scriptures  to  be  a  divine 
revelation,  this  way  of  mine,  I  perceive,  is  not  the  right  one ;  I  must 
believe  in  Christ,  and  through  Him  come  to  God.'  I  replied,  '  You 
say,  if  you  take  the  Scriptures  to  be  a  divine  revelation  ?  '  He  fetched 
a  deep  sigh,  and  said,  '  O  God,  Thou  wilt  make  me  say,  Because  I  take 
the  Scriptures  to  be  Thy  word.'  I  said,  'There  are  grounds  and 
reasons  enough  to  demonstrate  the  divine  origin  of  Christianity,  as 
I  could  show  from  its  most  essential  principles,  were  not  the  period  of 
your  life  so  short ;  but  we  need  not  now  that  diffusive  method,  faith 


1  Dr.  Fresenius. 

VOL.   IV  19 


308  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Apmi7B9. 

being  the  gift  of  God.  A  poor  sinner  tottering  on  the  brink  of  eternity 
has  not  time  to  inquire  about  grounds  and  reasons ;  rather  betake 
yourself  to  earnest  prayer  for  faith,  which,  if  you  do,  I  doubt  not  but 
God  will  give  it  you.'  I  had  no  sooner  spoken  these  words  but,  pulling 
off  his  cap  and  lifting  up  his  eyes  and  hands,  he  cried  out,  '  O  Almighty 
God,  I  am  a  poor  cursed  sinner,  worthy  of  damnation  ;  but,  Lord  Jesus, 
eternal  Son  of  God,  Thou  diedst  for  my  sins  also.  It  is  through  Thee 
alone  I  can  be  saved.  Oh  give  me  faith,  and  strengthen  that  faith  ! ' 
Being  extremely  weak,  he  was  obliged  to  stop  here.  A  little  after  he 
asked,  '  Is  faith  enough  for  salvation  ? '  '  Yes,  sir,'  said  I,  '  if  it  be 
living  faith.'  •  Methinks,'  said  he,  'it  is  so  already,  and  it  will  be  more 
so  by-and-by  ;  let  us  pray  for  it.'  Perceiving  he  was  very  weak,  to  give 
him  some  rest  I  retired  into  the  next  room,  but  he  soon  sent  to  call  me. 
I  found  him  praying,  and  Jesus  was  all  he  prayed  for.  I  reminded  him 
of  some  scriptures  treating  of  faith  in  Christ,  and  he  was  much  delighted 
with  them.  Indeed,  he  was  quite  swallowed  up  by  the  grace  of  Jesus, 
and  would  hear  of  nothing  but  '  Jesus  Christ,  and  Him  crucified.'  He 
cried  out,  '  I  do  not  know  how  it  is  with  me.  I  never  in  my  life  felt 
such  a  change.  I  have  power  to  love  Jesus,  and  to  believe  in  Him 
whom  I  so  long  rejected.     O  my  Jesus,  how  merciful  art  Thou  to  me  ! ' 

About  noon  I  stepped  home,  but  he  sent  for  me  directly,  so  that  I 
could  scarce  eat  my  dinner.  We  were  both  filled  with  joy,  as  partakers 
of  the  same  grace  which  is  in  Jesus  Christ,  and  that  in  such  a  manner 
as  if  we  had  been  acquainted  together  for  many  years.  Many  officers 
of  the  army  came  to  see  him  continually,  to  all  of  whom  he  talked  freely 
of  Jesus,  of  the  grace  of  the  Father  in  Him,  and  of  the  power  of  the 
Holy  Ghost  through  Him,  wondering  without  ceasing  at  his  having  found 
Jesus,  and  at  the  happy  change  by  which  all  things  on  this  side  eternity 
were  become  indifferent  to  him. 

In  the  afternoon  he  desired  to  partake  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  which 
he  received  with  a  melting,  praising,  rejoicing  heart.  All  the  rest  of 
the  day  he  continued  in  the  same  state  of  soul.  Toward  evening  he  desired 
that  if  his  end  should  approach  I  would  come  to  him,  which  I  promised  ; 
but  he  did  not  send  for  me  till  the  next  morning.  I  was  told  by  his 
valet  that  he  slept  well  for  some  hours,  and  then,  awaking,  prayed 
for  a  considerable  time,  continually  mentioning  the  name  of  our  Lord 
and  His  precious  blood,  and  that  he  had  desired  several  of  the  officers 
to  make  his  conversion  known  to  his  Court  (that  of  the  King  of 
Poland).  After  some  discourse  I  asked,  '  Has  your  view  of  Christ  and 
His  redemption  been  neither  altered  nor  obscured  since  yesterday  ? ' 
He  answered,  '  Neither  altered  nor  obscured.  I  have  no  doubt,  not 
even  a  remote  one.  It  is  just  the  same  with  me  as  if  I  had  always 
thus  believed  and  never  doubted,  so  gracious  is  the  Lord  Jesus  to  me, 
a  sinner.' 


April  1759. 


York   Castle  309 


This  second  day  he  was  unwearied  in  prayer  and  exercises  of  faith. 
Toward  evening  he  sent  for  me  in  haste.  When  I  came  I  found  him 
dying,  and  in  a  kind  of  delirium,  so  I  could  do  no  more  than  give  him 
now  and  then  a  word  of  comfort.  I  prayed  afterwards  for  him  and 
those  that  were  present,  some  of  whom  were  of  high  birth  and  rank.  I 
then,  by  imposition  of  hands  as  usual,  gave  him  a  blessing,  which  being 
done  he  expired  immediately.  A  Royal  Prince  who  was  there  (Prince 
Xavier  of  Saxony)  could  not  forbear  weeping.  The  rest  of  the  officers 
bewailed  the  loss  of  their  general,  yet  praised  God  for  having  shown 
such  mercy  toward  him. 

I  wrote  an  account  of  it  without  delay  to  his  mother,  and  had 
an  immediate  answer.  She  was  a  lady  of  seventy-two,  of  exemplary 
piety.  She  praised  God  for  His  mercy,  adding  that  He  had  now 
answered  the  prayers  which  she  had  never  ceased  to  offer  on  his  behalf 
for  eleven  years. 

Sun.  15  (being  Easter  Day). — I  preached  at  Epworth  at 
eight,  and  then  rode  to  Haxey  church,  where  I  was  much 
refreshed  by  the  decency  and  seriousness  of  the  congregation. 
Between  one  and  two  I  began  preaching.  So  large  a  congre- 
gation was  never  seen  here  before.  About  five  I  preached  at 
the  market-place  in  Epworth.  I  was  drawing  to  a  conclusion 
when  the  rain  began,  but  it  drove  away  only  a  few  careless 
hearers  :  the  bulk  of  the  people  did  not  stir  till  I  concluded.1 

Wed.  18. — I  set  out  for  Selby.  We  were  in  hopes  the 
roads  would  now  be  passable,  and  they  were  tolerable  till  we 
came  near  the  town,  but  here  the  late  flood  had  carried  away 
the  bank  over  which  we  were  to  ride,  and  left  a  great  hole  in 
its  place.  However,  we  made  shift  to  lead  our  horses  over  a 
narrow  path,  where  the  water  was  fordable.  The  congregation 
at  Selby  obliged  me  to  stand  in  the  garden,  though  the  north 
wind  was  exceeding  high.  At  seven  in  the  evening  I  preached  2 
at  York. 

TJiur.  19. —  I  visited  two  prisoners  in  the  Castle,  which  is,  I 
suppose,  the  most  commodious  prison  in  Europe.  Both  of  them 
seemed  to  be  much  convinced,  and  not  far  from  the  kingdom  of 
God.  At  six  I  preached  in  the  shell  of  the  new  house  3  to  a 
numerous  and  serious  audience. 


1  On  Tuesday,  April   17,  he  preached  persons  (Lyth's    History  of  Methodism 

at  Belton  and  Bawdrip.  in  York,  p.  92). 

:  In    Pump  Yard,  in  a   room    which  '  In    1'easeholme  Green   (ibid.).     See 

held    about    one    hundred   and   twenty  above,  p.  224. 


310  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [April  1759. 

Fri.  20. — The  master  of  the  inn  at  Tadcaster  x  offering  us  the 
use  of  his  garden,  I  preached  to  a  well-behaved  congregation,  and 
about  five  found  Mr.  Grimshaw  and  many  of  our  brethren  at  Leeds. 

Sat.  21. — At  half-hour  past  ten  we  reached  Stainland  chapel,2 
near  Elland.  It  is  a  handsome  building,  near  the  top  of  a  moun- 
tain, and  surrounded  with  mountains  on  all  sides.  It  was  filled 
from  end  to  end.  Mr.  Grimshaw  read  prayers,  and  I  preached 
on  part  of  the  Second  Lesson.  In  the  room  where  I  dressed 
myself  were  a  young  man  and  his  sister,  both  ill  of  a  fever.  I 
know  not  that  ever  they  heard  the  preaching.  However,  I 
desired  we  might  go  to  prayers;  they  presently  melted  into  tears. 
Oh  may  God  preach  His  gospel  to  their  hearts  ! 

I  preached  at  Manchester  in  the  evening,  where  we  had  at 
length  a  quiet  audience.  Wretched  magistrates,  who,  by  refusing 
to  suppress,  encouraged  the  rioters,  had  long  occasioned  con- 
tinual tumults  here.  But  some  are  now  of  a  better  spirit ;  and 
whenever  magistrates  desire  to  preserve  the  peace  they  have 
sufficient  power  to  do  it. 

Tues.  24. — I  rode  over  to  Macclesfield.3  Abundance  of 
people  ran  together,  but  wild  as  colts  untamed.  Their  noise 
quite  drowned  my  voice  at  first  ;  but  in  a  while  they  were 
tolerably  quiet,  and  before  I  had  done  all  but  four  or  five 
lubberly  men  seemed  almost  persuaded  to  be  Christians. 


1  On  Friday  the  20th  the  Sermon  was  'gutted,'  by-and-by  galleried,  and 
Register  has  Leeds  and  Tadcaster.  The  rilled  (see  Smith's  Methodism  in  Maccles~ 
inn  at  Tadcaster  was  probably  the  White  field,  pp.  44-6).  Mrs.  Ryle  was  the  great- 
Horse.  For  the  beginning  of  Methodism  grandmother  of  Dr.  J.  C.  Ryle,  the  first 
in  Tadcaster  see  memoir  of  Thomas  Ellis  Bishop  of  Liverpool,  whose  son,  Bishop 
in  Meth.  Mag.  1805,  p.  221.  of    Winchester   till    191 1,    then   became 

2  Erected  in  1755,  probably  as  a  Dean  of  Westminster.  She  (Mrs.  Ryle) 
chapel-of-ease  (Methodism  in  Halifax,  joined  the  society  here  during  the  occupa- 
p.  102).  tion  of  this  room.     Her  son  John,  banker, 

*  See  Methodism  in  Macclesfield,  p.  51,  afterwards   alderman  and  mayor  of    the 

for  a  tradition  as  to  Wesley  having  been  borough,  and  friend  of  Wesley,  was  one 

struck   in   the   face  by  a   stone   on   this  of  the  first  trustees  of  Sunderland  Street 

occasion.     For  the  origin  of  Methodism  chapel  (1779).  Another  person  who  after- 

in  Macclesfield  (or  Maxfield,  as  it  was  wards  became  notable  was  Hester  Ann 

then  called)  see  above,  vol.  iii •  pp.  175  Roe,  whose  father,  a  Macclesfield  vicar, 

and  224.    Since  1747,  Nelson,  Hopper,  refused  his  church  to  Wesley,  though  he 

and  other  preachers  had  visited  Maccles-  did  not  actively  oppose.     She  was  bora 

field.     In    1750    George     Pearson     and  in  1756,  and  became  the  wife  of  James 

Elizabeth  Clulow  took  a  cottage  larger  Rogers,  one  of  Wesley's  preachers, 
than  the  room  at  Shrigley  Fold.     This 


May  1759.] 


In  Cheshire  3 1 1 


Sun.  29. — I  rode  to  Stockport,  designing  to  preach  at  one 
o'clock  ;  but  we  were  at  a  loss  for  a  place.  We  fixed  at  length 
on  a  green  near  the  town's  end,  and  we  had  a  quiet  and  solemn 
opportunity. 

In  my  return  I  called  to  see  a  girl  about  thirteen  years 
of  age.  She  had  been  in  violent  pain  all  over,  with  little  inter- 
mission, for  near  twenty  months.  After  I  had  spoke  a  few 
words  she  said,  '  When  I  saw  you  before  I  did  not  know  the 
Lord  ;  but  now  I  know  Him,  and  am  known  of  Him.  I  am 
His,  and  He  is  mine.'  I  asked,  '  Do  you  never  repine  at  your 
pain  ? '  She  said,  '  No ;  I  have  not  a  murmuring  thought  : 
I  am  happy,  always  happy.  I  would  not  change  this  bed  of 
affliction  for  the  palace  of  King  George.'  I  asked,  '  Are  you 
not  proud  o(  this  ?  Is  pride  taken  out  of  your  heart  ?  '  She 
answered,  '  I  do  not  know  ;  but  I  feel  no  pride.  I  feel  that  God 
is  all.'  '  But  do  you  feel  no  fretfulness  or  peevishness  ? '  'I 
cannot  tell  that  I  do.  Pain  sometimes  makes  me  cry  out  when 
they  stir  me  ;  but  I  do  not  fret  at  anything.'  '  Do  you  find  no 
self-will?'  'Not  that  I  know.  I  desire  nothing  but  that  the 
will  of  God  be  done.'  '  Do  not  you  desire  life  or  death  ? ' 
'No;  I  leave  all  to  Him.  But,  if  it  was  His  will,  I  should  be 
glad  to  die.  The  world  is  full  of  danger :  I  should  be  glad  to 
leave  it,  and  to  be  with  Christ.''  Oh  why  was  she  then  not  taken 
to  Paradise  ?     I  fear  she  has  now  no  religion  at  all !  l 

Mom.  30.2 — We  had  a  numerous  congregation  at  Acton 
Bridge,  two  or  three  miles  from  Northwich.  Some  large  trees 
screened  us  both  from  the  sun  and  wind.  In  the  afternoon  I 
rode  on  to  Chester.  It  was  well  the  wind  was  pretty  high  ;  for 
the  sun  shone  as  hot  as  it  uses  to  do  in  the  dog-days. 

May  2,  Wed. — I  rode  over  to  Mold,  in  Flintshire,  about 
twelve  miles  from  Chester.  The  sun  was  very  hot  and  the 
wind  very  cold  ;  but,  as  the  place  they  had  chose  for  me  was 
exposed  both  to  the  sun  and  the  wind,  the  one  balanced  the 
other.  And,  notwithstanding  the  Chester  races,  which  had 
drawn  the  rich  away,  and  the  market-day,  which  detained  many 


1  The  last  two  sentences  are  not  in  the  26,  Booth  Bank  ;  Friday  27,   Manches- 

original  edition.  ter  ;  Sun.  29,  Stockport  ;  Mon.  30,  Acton 

*  The  entries  in  the  Sermon  Register  Bridge  (named  in  the  text),    and  Altrin- 

are  :  Wed.  April  25,  Manchester  ;  Thur.  cham  (not  named). 


3 1 2  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [May  1759. 

of  the  poor,  we  had  a  multitude  of  people,  the  serious  part  of 
whom  soon  influenced  the  rest  ;  so  that  all  but  two  or  three 
remained  uncovered,  and  kneeled  down  as  soon  as  I  began 
to  pray. 

TJuir.  3. — We  crossed  over  from  Chester  to  Liverpool.  The 
congregations  here  were  exceeding  large,  but  many  of  them 
seemed  to  be  like  wild  asses'  colts.  Yet  God  is  able  to  make 
them  wise  unto  salvation. 

Sun.  6. — I  received  much  comfort  at  the  old  church  1  in  the 
morning,  and  at  St.  Thomas's  in  the  afternoon.  It  was  as  if 
both  the  sermons  had  been  made  for  me.  I  pity  those  who  can 
find  no  good  at  church.  But  how  should  they,  if  prejudice 
come  between,  an  effectual  bar  to  the  grace  of  God  ? 

Wed.  9. — I  rode  to  Downall  Green,3  near  Wigan,  a  town 
wicked  to  a  proverb.  We  had  a  specimen  of  the  manners  of 
its  inhabitants  in  the  behaviour  of  a  man  that  met  us,  and 
accosted  us  with  such  language  as  would  have  become  an 
inhabitant  of  the  bottomless  pit.  One  would  have  thought, 
from  their  looks,  that  a  good  part  of  the  congregation  was  of 
the  same  spirit ;  but  in  a  short  time  the  word  of  God  prevailed, 
and  all  their  fierceness  melted  away. 

In  the  evening  I  preached  at  Bolton,  and  on  Friday  the.  11  th, 
about  nine,  at  [Lower]  Darwen,  a  small  village  near  Blackburn. 
At  Lancaster  we  were  informed  it  was  too  late  to  cross  the 
sands.3  However,  we  resolved  to  make  the  trial.  We  passed 
the  seven-mile  sand  without  difficulty,  and  reached  Flookborough 
about  sunset. 

Sat.  12. — Setting  out  early,  we  came  to  Bootle,  about 
twenty-four  measured  miles  from  Flookborough,  soon  after  eight, 
having  crossed  the  Millom  Sands  without  either  guide  or  diffi- 
culty. Here  we  were  informed  that  we  could  not  pass  at 
Ravenglass  before  one  or  two  o'clock  ;  whereas,  had  we  gone 
on  (as  we  afterward  found)  we  might  have  passed  immedi- 
ately.    About   eleven  we  were   directed  to  a  ford    near    Mun- 


1  St.    Nicholas.       For    St.    Thomas's  from    the   estuaries  of  the   rivers  Kent, 

see  above,  p.  203.  Crake,  and  Duddon.     They  are  almost 

-  See  Meth.  Rec.  Nov.  27,  1902.  dry  at  low  water,  offering  a  sand  high- 

*  See  James  T.  Lightwood's  descrip-  way,  alluring  but  dangerous.     (JV.H.S. 

tion   of  these  sands,  which  are  formed  vol.  iv.  p.  120.) 


May  1759.]  The  Millom  Sands  313 

caster  Hall,  which  they  said  we  might  cross  at  noon.  When 
we  came  thither  they  told  us  we  could  not  cross,  so  we  sat  still 
till  about  one.  We  then  found  we  could  have  crossed  at  noon. 
However,  we  reached  Whitehaven  before  night.  But  I  have 
taken  my  leave  of  the  sand-road.  I  believe  it  is  ten  measured 
miles  shorter  than  the  other ;  but  there  are  four  sands  to  pass, 
so  far  from  each  other  that  it  is  scarce  possible  to  pass  them 
all  in  a  day — especially  as  you  have  all  the  way  to  do  with  a 
generation  of  liars,  who  detain  all  strangers  as  long  as  they 
can,  either  for  their  own  gain  or  their  neighbours'.  I  can  advise 
no  stranger  to  go  this  way :  he  may  go  round  by  Kendal 
and  Keswick,  often  in  less  time,  always  with  less  expense,  and 
far  less  trial  of  his  patience.1 

Reflecting  to-day  on  the  case  of  a  poor  woman  who  had 
continual  pain  in  her  stomach,  I  could  not  but  remark  the 
inexcusable  negligence  of  most  physicians  in  cases  of  this 
nature.  They  prescribe  drug  upon  drug,  without  knowing 
a  jot  of  the  matter  concerning  the  root  of  the  disorder. 
And  without  knowing  this  they  cannot  cure,  though  they 
can  murder,  the  patient.  Whence  came  this  woman's  pain 
(which  she  would  never  have  told  had  she  never  been  questioned 
about  it)?  From  fretting  for  the  death  of  her  son.  And  what 
availed  medicines  while  that  fretting  continued  ?  Why,  then, 
do  not  all  physicians  consider  how  far  bodily  disorders  are 
caused  or  influenced  by  the  mind,  and  in  those  cases  which 
are  utterly  out  of  their  sphere  call  in  the  assistance  of  a  minis- 
ter ;  as  ministers,  when  they  find  the  mind  disordered  by  the 
body,  call  in  the  assistance  of  a  physician  ?  But  why  are  these 
cases  out  of  their  sphere  ?  Because  they  know  not  God.  It 
follows,  no  man  can  be  a  thorough  physician  without  being  an 
experienced  Christian. 


'  At  Hest  Bank,  the  first  stage  from  south  of  Holker  Hall,  past  Park  Head, 
Lancaster,  he  would  probably  engage  thence  to  Ulverston  Sands,  Kirby  Ire- 
the  guide,  whose  office  is  an  ancient  leth,  Millom  Sands,  and  Bootle.  It  is 
institution,  originally  established  by  the  calculated  that  he  must  have  left  Flook- 
neighbouring  Priory  of  Cartmel,  but  borough  between  2  and  3  a.m.  At  Raven- 
now  maintained  by  the  Duchy  of  Lan-  glass  he  crossed  the  Esk  estuary.  The 
caster.  After  Flookborough,  where  he  difficulties  of  his  journey  were  increased 
slept,  he  would  probably  go  to  Cark,  and  by  the  lies  told  about  the  tides.  ( IV. M. 
thence  on  to  the  Sands,  and  round  the  Mag.  1912,  p.  47.) 


314  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [May  1759. 

Tues.  15. — I  rode  over  to  Lorton,1  a  little  village  at  the  foot 
of  a  high  mountain.  M-any  came  from  a  considerable  distance, 
and  I  believe  did  not  repent  of  their  labour ;  for  they  found 
God  to  be  a  God  both  of  the  hills  and  valleys,  and  nowhere  more 
present  than  in  the  mountains  of  Cumberland.2 

Thur.  17. — I  inquired  into  a  signal  instance  of  providence. 
When  a  coal-pit  runs  far  under  the  ground,  it  is  customary 
here  to  build  a  partition-wall,  nearly  from  the  shaft  to  within 
three  or  four  yards  of  the  end,  in  order  to  make  the  air  circulate, 
which  then  moves  down  one  side  of  the  wall,  turns  at  the  end, 
and  then  moves  briskly  up  on  the  other  side.  In  a  pit  two 
miles  from  the  town,  which  ran  full  four  hundred  yards  under 
the  ground,  and  had  been  long  neglected,  several  parts  of  this 
wall  were  fallen  down.  Four  men  were  sent  down  to  repair  it. 
They  were  about  three  hundred  yards  from  the  shaft,  when  the 
foul  air  took  fire.  In  a  moment  it  tore  down  the  wall  from  end 
to  end  ;  and,  burning  on  till  it  came  to  the  shaft,  it  then  burst 
and  went  off  like  a  large  cannon.  The  men  instantly  fell  on 
their  faces,  or  they  would  have  been  burned  to  death  in  a  few 
moments.  One  of  them,  who  once  knew  the  love  of  God 
(Andrew  English),  began  crying  aloud  for  mercy  ;  but  in  a  very 
short  time  his  breath  was  stopped.  The  other  three  crept  on 
their  hands  and  knees,  till  two  got  to  the  shaft  and  were  drawn 
up  ;  but  one  of  them  died  in  a  few  minutes.  John  M'Combe 
was  drawn  up  next,  burned  from  head  to  foot,  but  rejoicing  and 
praising  God.  They  then  went  down  for  Andrew,  whom  they 
found  senseless  :  the  very  circumstance  which  saved  his  life. 
For,  losing  his  senses,  he  lay  flat  on  the  ground,  and  the 
greatest  part  of  the  fire  went  over  him  ;  whereas,  had  he  gone 
forward  on  his  hands  and  knees,  he  would  undoubtedly  have 
been  burned  to  death.  But  life  or  death  was  welcome,  for  God 
had  restored  the  light  of  His  countenance.3 

Sat.  19. — One  was  showing  us  the  improvements  begun  by 
Sir   William   Lowther.4      He  had  marked  out  places   for  new 


'  See  above,  p.  29.  referred  to  above,  Oct.  28,  1 754.     See 

"  On  May  16,  being  then  in  Cumber-  Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  231. 

land,  he  wrote  to  a  friend  of  rank  and  '  On   the    17th  he   preached  again  at 

education     on    Worldly    and    Christian  Whitehaven. 

Prudence.      Probably  this   is   one   of  a  4  The   cousin   of    Rev.    Sir    William 

series  of  letters  to  Sir  James  Lowther  Lowther,  Prebendary  of  York  and  rector 


May  1759] 


A  Scotch   Tour  315 


walks  and  for  tufts  of  trees,  laid  out  a  new  plan  for  his  gardens, 
begun  to  alter  the  house,  and  was  preparing  to  make  a  little 
paradise  round  about  it.  But  death  came  between.  And  how 
little  loss  was  this,  if  it  removed  him  to  the  paradise  of  God  ! 

Sun.  20. — I  preached  at  eight  in  an  open  place  at  the  Gins, 
a  village  on  one  side  of  the  town.  Many  were  there  who  never 
did  and  never  would  come  to  the  room.  Oh  what  a  victory 
would  Satan  gain  if  he  could  put  an  end  to  field-preaching ! 
But  that,  I  trust,  he  never  will  ;  at  least  not  till  my  head  is  laid. 

After  preaching  again  at  two,  I  took  my  leave  of  White- 
haven, and  rode  to  Cockermouth.  At  six  I  preached  at  the 
end  of  the  market-house.  High  and  low,  rich  and  poor, 
attended  ;  and  by  far  the  greater  part  of  the  audience  seemed  to 
be  conscious  that  God  was  there. 

Mon.  21. — I  preached  at  ten  in  the  market-place  at  Wigton, 
and  came  to  Solway  Frith,  just  as  the  water  was  fordable.  At 
some  times  it  is  so  three  hours  in  twelve  ;  at  other  times, 
barely  one. 

After  making  a  short  bait  at  Ruthwell,  we  came  to  Dumfries 
before  six  o'clock.  Having  time  to  spare,  we  took  a  walk  in 
the  churchyard,  one  of  the  pleasantest  places  I  ever  saw.  A 
single  tomb  I  observed  there,  which  was  about  a  hundred  and 
thirty  years  old  ;  but  the  inscription  was  very  hardly  legible  : 

Quandoquidem  remanent  ipsis  quoque  fata  sepulchris  ! 1 

So  soon  do  even  our  sepulchres  die  !  Strange  that  men  should 
be  so  careful  about  them  !  But  are  not  many  self-condemned 
therein  ?  They  see  the  folly,  while  they  run  into  it.  So  poor 
Mr.  Prior,  speaking  of  his  own  tomb,  has  those  melancholy 
words,  '  For  this  last  piece  of  human  vanity,  I  bequeath  five 
hundred  pounds.' 

Tues.  22. — We  rode  through  a  pleasant  country  to  Thornhill, 


of  Swillington,  to  whom  he  left  his  estate.  '  Juvenal,  Sat.  x.  146.  Quoted  freely  : 

The    second    wife    of  the    Sir    William  remanent  substituted  for  data  sunt. 
of    the    text    was    Lady    Huntingdon's 

friend,    of    whom    Henry    Venn    wrote,  For  ^sepulchres  themselves  must  crumbling 

'  an  honour  to  her  Christian  profession.'  In  ^^  abyss>  the  common  Rrave  of  ^ 
The  Rev.  Sir  William's  son  James,  who 

ultimately    inherited    the     estates,    was  Dryden's   translation    (IV.ff.S.    vol.    v. 

created  Earl  of  Lonsdale.  p.   48). 


3i 6  John   Wesley  s  Jotirnal  [Mayi7B9. 


near  which  is  the  grand  seat  of  the  Duke  of  Oueensberry.  How 
little  did  the  late  Duke  imagine  that  his  son  would  plough  up  his 
park  and  let  his  house  run  to  ruin  !  But  let  it  go !  In  a  little 
time  the  earth  itself,  and  all  the  works  of  it,  shall  be  burned  up. 

Hence  we  rode  through  and  over  huge  mountains,  green  to 
the  very  top,  to  Leadhills,  a  village  containing  five  hundred 
families,  who  have  had  no  minister  for  these  four  years.  So,  in 
Scotland,  the  poor  have  not  the  gospel  preached  !  Who  shall 
answer  for  the  blood  of  these  men  ? 

Early  in  the  evening  we  came  to  Lesmahagow,  a  village  not 
so  large  as  Leadhills.  It  has,  however,  two  ministers.  Here 
also  we  walked  down  to  the  churchyard,  by  the  side  of  which 
a  little  clear  river  runs,  near  the  foot  of  a  high  and  steep 
mountain.  The  wood  which  covers  this  makes  the  walks  that 
run  on  its  sides  pleasant  beyond  imagination.  But  what  taste 
have  the  good  people  of  the  town  for  this  ?  As  much  as  the 
animals  that  graze  on  the  river-bank. 

Wed.  23. — We  took  horse  soon  after  four,  and  did  not  stop 
before  we  came  to  Glasgow,  having  hardly  seen  a  cloud  in  the 
sky  since  we  set  out  from  Whitehaven. 

I  preached  at  seven  in  the  Poor  House,  and  at  seven  in  the 
morning,  Thursday  the  24th.  But  in  the  evening  we  were 
obliged  to  be  abroad,  and  I  used  great  plainness  of  speech.  All 
suffered  the  word  of  exhortation  ;  some  seemed  to  be  a  little 
affected. 

Sat.  26. — I  found  the  little  society  which  I  had  joined  here 
two  years  since  had  soon  split  in  pieces.  In  the  afternoon  I 
met  several  of  the  members  of  the  praying  societies  and 
showed  them  what  Christian  fellowship  was,  and  what  need 
they  had  of  it.  About  forty  of  them  met  me  on  Sunday  the  27th, 
in  Mr.  Gillies's  kirk,1  immediately  after  evening  service.  I  left 
them  determined  to  meet  Mr.  Gillies  weekly,  at  the  same  time 
and  place.  If  this  be  done,  I  shall  try  to  see  Glasgow  again  ; 
if  not,  I  can  employ  my  time  better.2 


1  For   Mr.  Gillies  and   his  friendship  portance   to    Christian   fellowship   as  a 

with  Wesley  see  above,  pp.  62,  117.  means  of  guarding  and  edifying  the  con- 

1  This  is  a  noteworthy   illustration  of  verts.     The  Sermon  Register  shows  that 

a    fact   which    marked    Wesley's    work  he  preached  in  Glasgow  on  the  day  of 

throughout.      He  attached  supreme  ira-  his  arrival,  on  the  25th,  and  the  27th. 


May  1759.]  The  Everton  Revival  3 1 7 

At  seven  in  the  morning  we  had  a  numerous  congregation, 
though  small  compared  to  that  in  the  evening.  Yet  my  voice 
was  so  strengthened  that  I  believe  all  could  hear.  I  spoke 
very  plain  on  '  Ye  must  be  born  again.'  Now  I  am  clear  of  the 
blood  of  this  people.     I  have  delivered  my  own  soul. 

Mon.  28. — I  rode  through  Edinburgh  to  Musselburgh,  and 
preached  in  the  evening  to  a  deeply  attentive  congregation. 

Wed.  30. — I  rode  on  to  Dunbar,  and  at  six  in  the  evening 
preached  in  a  large,  open  place.  (As  also  the  next  day.) 
Both  poor  and  rich  quietly  attended,  though  most  of  them 
shivering  with  cold  ;  for  the  weather  was  so  changed  within  a 
few  days  that  it  seemed  more  like  December  than  May. 

Lodging  with  a  sensible  man,  I  inquired  particularly  into 
the  present  discipline  of  the  Scotch  parishes.  In  one  parish  it 
seems  there  are  twelve  ruling  elders  ;  in  another  there  are 
fourteen.  And  what  are  these?  Men  of  great  sense  and  deep 
experience?  Neither  one  nor  the  other.  But  they  are  the 
richest  men  in  the  parish.  And  are  the  richest,  of  course,  the  best 
and  the  wisest  men  ?  Does  the  Bible  teach  this  ?  I  fear  not. 
What  manner  of  governors,  then,  will  these  be  ?  Why,  they  are 
generally  just  as  capable  of  governing  a  parish  as  of  commanding 
an  army. 

About  this  time  the  work  of  God  exceedingly  increased 
under  the  Rev.  Mr.  Berridge,  near  Everton.  I  cannot  give  a 
clearer  view  of  this  than  by  transcribing  part  of  the  Journal  of 
an  eye-witness  1 : 

Sunday,  May  20. — Being  with  Mr.   B[lackwe]ll  at  Everton,  I  was 

1  The  story   of  the  Everton   Revival,  that  Mrs.  Blackwell,  being   in   doubtful 

obviously,    is    a    composite    document,  health,   found  early  rising  wellnigh  im- 

three,     probably     four,      possibly     five  possible,  and  that  this  infirmity  is  more 

Journals  or  letters  being  quoted,  Berridge,  than  once  referred  to  in  the  text.     See 

Hicks,  Mrs.  Blackwell,  John  Walsh,  and,  W.H.S.    vol.    iv.   p.    22    (No.     213    in 

it  may  be,  Mr.   Blackwell,  contributing.  Notes  and  Queries).      Mrs.    Blackwell's 

H.J.  Foster  suggests  a  theory  that  dis-  story    closes    with     a     quotation     from 

poses  of  most,  if  not  all,  of  the  difficulties.  Mr.  Berridge's  Journal.     It  is  this  that 

He  points  out  that  there  are  two  reports,  has   misled  the  maker  of  the  index   to 

and    attributes    them    to    two    distinct  Wesley's  Works,  who  attributes  the  whole 

sources  :  '  For  the   first   I  suggest  Mrs.  to  Berridge. 

Elizabeth  Blackwell,  of  Lewisham.'  For  a  note  accounting  for  the  author- 
Mr.  Foster  then  works  out  an  extremely  ship  of  the  second  narrative  see  below, 
interesting  argument  based  on  the   fact  p.  333. 


3 1 8  John   Wesley's  Journal  [May  1759. 

much  fatigued  and  did  not  rise.  But  Mr.  B.  did,  and  observed  several 
fainting  and  crying  out  while  Mr.  B[erridge]  was  preaching.1  Afterward, 
at  church,  I  heard  many  cry  out,  especially  children,  whose  agonies 
were  amazing.  One  of  the  eldest,  a  girl  ten  or  twelve  years  old,  was 
full  in  my  view,  in  violent  contortions  of  body,  and  weeping  aloud,  I 
think  incessantly  during  the  whole  service.  And  several  much  younger 
children  were  in  Mr.  B[lackwe]ll's  view,  agonizing  as  this  did.  The 
church  was  equally  crowded  in  the  afternoon,  the  windows  being  filled 
within  and  without,  and  even  the  outside  of  the  pulpit  to  the  very  top ; 
so  that  Mr.  B[erridg]e  seemed  almost  stifled  by  their  breath.  Yet, 
feeble  and  sickly  as  he  is,  he  was  continually  strengthened,  and  his 
voice  for  the  most  part  distinguishable,  in  the  midst  of  all  the  outcries. 
I  believe  there  were  present  three  times  more  men  than  women,  a 
great  part  of  whom  came  from  far ;  thirty  of  them  having  set  out,  at 
two  in  the  morning,  from  a  place  thirteen  miles  off.  The  text  was, 
1  Having  a  form  of  godliness,  but  denying  the  power  thereof.'  When 
the  power  of  religion  began  to  be  spoke  of,  the  presence  of  God  really 
filled  the  place.  And  while  poor  sinners  felt  the  sentence  of  death  in 
their  souls,  what  sounds  of  distress  did  I  hear !  The  greatest  number 
of  them  who  cried  or  fell  were  men ;  but  some  women,  and  several 
children,  felt  the  power  of  the  same  almighty  Spirit,  and  seemed  just 
sinking  into  hell.  This  occasioned  a  mixture  of  various  sounds,  some 
shrieking,  some  roaring  aloud.  The  most  general  was  a  loud  breathing, 
like  that  of  people  half  strangled  and  gasping  for  life.  And  indeed 
almost  all  the  cries  were  like  those  of  human  creatures  dying  in  bitter 
anguish.  Great  numbers  wept  without  any  noise  3  others  fell  down  as 
dead ;  some  sinking  in  silence,  some  with  extreme  noise  and  violent 
agitation.  I  stood  on  the  pew-seat,  as  did  a  young  man  in  the  opposite 
pew,  an  able-bodied,  fresh,  healthy  countryman.  But  in  a  moment, 
while  he  seemed  to  think  of  nothing  less,  down  he  dropped,  with  a 
violence  inconceivable.  The  adjoining  pews  seemed  shook  with  his 
fall.  I  heard  afterward  the  stamping  of  his  feet,  ready  to  break  the 
boards,  as  he  lay  in  strong  convulsions  at  the  bottom  of  the  pew. 
Among  several  that  were  struck  down  in  the  next  pew  was  a  girl  who 
was  as  violently  seized  as  him.  When  he  fell,  B[lackwe]ll  and  I  felt  our 
souls  thrilled  with  a  momentary  dread ;  as  when  one  man  is  killed  by 
a  cannon-ball,  another  often  feels  the  wind  of  it. 

Among  the  children  who  felt  the  arrows  of  the  Almighty  I  saw  a 
sturdy  boy,  about  eight  years  old,  who  roared  above  his  fellows,  and 
seemed,  in  his  agony,  to  struggle  with  the  strength  of  a  grown  man.  His 
face  was  red  as  scarlet ;  and  almost  all  on  whom  God  laid  His  hand 
turned  either  very  red  or  almost  black.     When  I  returned,  after  a  little 


See  like  effects  under  Wesley's  preaching  at  Everton,  above,  p.  292. 


May  1759.]  The  Everton  Revival  319 

walk,  to  Mr.  Berridge's  house,  I  found  it  full  of  people.  He  was 
fatigued,  but  said  he  would  nevertheless  give  them  a  word  of  exhortation. 
I  stayed  in  the  next  room,  and  saw  the  girl  whom  I  had  observed  so 
particularly  distressed  in  the  church  lying  on  the  floor  as  one  dead ; 
but  without  any  ghastliness  in  her  face.  In  a  few  minutes  we  were 
informed  of  a  woman  filled  with  peace  and  joy,  who  was  crying  out  just 
before.  She  had  come  thirteen  miles,  and  is  the  same  person  who 
dreamed  Mr.  Berridge  would  come  to  her  village  on  that  very  day 
whereon  he  did  come,  though  without  either  knowing  the  place  or  the 
way  to  it.  She  was  convinced  at  that  time.  Just  as  we  heard  of  her 
deliverance  the  girl  on  the  floor  began  to  stir.  She  was  then  set  in  a 
chair,  and,  after  sighing  a  while,  suddenly  rose  up,  rejoicing  in  God. 
Her  face  was  covered  with  the  most  beautiful  smile  I  ever  saw.  She 
frequently  fell  on  her  knees,  but  was  generally  running  to  and  fro, 
speaking  these  and  the  like  words,  '  Oh  what  can  Jesus  do  for  lost  sin- 
ners? He  has  forgiven  all  my  sins  !  I  am  in  heaven  !  I  am  in  heaven  ! 
Oh  how  He  loves  me  !  And  how  I  love  Him  ! '  Meantime  I  saw  a  thin, 
pale  girl,  weeping  with  sorrow  for  herself  and  joy  for  her  companion. 
Quickly  the  smiles  of  Heaven  came  likewise  on  her,  and  her  praises 
joined  with  those  of  the  other.  I  also  then  laughed  with  extreme  joy ; 
so  did  Mr.  Blackwell  (who  said  it  was  more  than  he  could  well  bear)  ; 
so  did  all  who  knew  the  Lord,  and  some  of  those  who  were  waiting 
for  salvation;  till  the  cries  of  them  who  were  struck  with  the  arrows  of 
conviction  were  almost  lost  in  the  sounds  of  joy. 

Two  or  three  well-dressed  young  women,  who  seemed  careless 
before,  now  felt  the  power  of  God,  and  cried  out  with  a  loud  and  bitter 

cry.     Mr.  Bferridge]  about  this  time  retired,  and  the  Duke  of  M , 

with  Mr.  A ll,1  came  in.  They  seemed  inclined  to  make  a  disturb- 
ance, but  were  restrained,  and  in  a  short  time  quietly  retired.  We 
continued  praising  God  with  all  our  might,  and  His  work  went  on  as 
when  Mr.  Berridge  was  exhorting.  I  had  for  some  time  observed  a 
young  woman  all  in  tears ;  but  now  her  countenance  changed.  The 
unspeakable  joy  appeared  in  her  face,  which  quick  as  lightning  was 
filled  with  smiles  and  became  of  a  crimson  colour.  About  the  same 
time  John  Keeling,  of  Potton,  fell  into  an  agony  ;  but  he  grew  calm  in 
about  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  though  without  a  clear  sense  of  pardon. 

Immediately  after,  a  stranger,  well  dressed,  who  stood  facing  me, 
fell  backward  to  the  wall,  then  forward  on  his  knees,  wringing  his 
hands  and  roaring  like  a  bull.  His  face  at  first  turned  quite  red,  then 
almost  black.  He  rose  and  ran  against  the  wall,  till  Mr.  Keeling  and 
another  held  him.     He  screamed  out,  '  Oh  what  shall  I  do  ?  what  shall 


Probably  the  Duke  of  Manchester  and  Mr.  Astell. 


32°  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [May  1709. 


I  do  ?  Oh  for  one  drop  of  the  blood  of  Christ ! ' 1  As  he  spoke,  God 
set  his  soul  at  liberty  ;  he  knew  his  sins  were  blotted  out,  and  the 
rapture  he  was  in  seemed  too  great  for  human  nature  to  bear.  He  had 
come  forty  miles  to  hear  Mr.  Berridge,  and  was  to  leave  him  the  next 
morning;  which  he  did  with  a  glad  heart,  telling  all  who  came  in  his 
way  what  God  had  done  for  his  soul. 

I  observed  about  the  time  that  Mr.  Coe  (that  was  his  name)  began 
to  rejoice,  a  girl,  eleven  or  twelve  years  old,  exceeding  poorly  dressed, 
who  appeared  to  be  as  deeply  wounded  and  as  desirous  of  salvation  as 
any.  But  I  lost  sight  of  her,  till  I  heard  the  joyful  sound  of  another 
born  in  Sion  ;  and  found,  upon  inquiry,  it  was  her,  the  poor,  disconsolate, 
gipsy-looking  child.  And  now  did  I  see  such  a  sight  as  I  do  not  expect 
again  on  this  side  eternity.  The  faces  of  the  three  justified  children, 
and  I  think  of  all  the  believers  present,  did  really  shine ;  and  such  a 
beauty,  such  a  look  of  extreme  happiness,  and  at  the  same  time  of 
divine  love  and  simplicity,  did  I  never  see  in  human  faces  till  now. 
The  newly  justified  eagerly  embraced  one  another,  weeping  on  each 
other's  necks  for  joy.  Then  they  saluted  all  of  their  own  sex,  and 
besought  both  men  and  women  to  help  them  in  praising  God. 

I  have  mentioned  only  one  man,  two  women,  and  three  children  at 
this  time  justified  in  the  house,  but  have  perhaps  omitted  some.  And 
it  is  probable  there  was  more  than  one  justified  at  the  church,  though 
but  one  came  to  speak  of  it ;  for  all  are  not  equally  free  to  glorify  God 
in  the  midst  of  His  people.  I  wish  all  who  find  the  same  salvation  with 
Mr.  Coe  were  as  ready  to  proclaim  redeeming  love  ! 

Thur.  24.— Mr.  Blackwell  and  I  went  to  hear  Mr.  Hicks,  at 
Wrestlingworth,  four  miles  from  Everton.  We  discoursed  with  him 
first,  and  were  glad  to  hear  he  had  wholly  given  himself  up  to  the 
glorious  work  of  God,  and  that  the  power  of  the  Highest  fell  upon  his 
hearers  as  upon  Mr.  Berridge's.  While  he  was  preaching,  fifteen  or 
sixteen  persons  felt  the  arrows  of  the  Lord,  and  dropped  down.  A  few 
of  these  cried  out  with  the  utmost  violence,  and  little  intermission,  for 
some  hours  ;  while  the  rest  made  no  great  noise,  but  continued  struggling, 
as  in  the  pangs  of  death.  I  observed,  besides  these,  one  little  girl, 
deeply  convinced,  and  a  boy,  nine  or  ten  years  old.  Both  these,  and 
several  others,  when  carried  into  the  parsonage-house,  either  lay  as 
dead,  or  struggled  with  all  their  might.  But  in  a  short  time  their  cries 
increased  beyond  measure,  so  that  the  loudest  singing  could  scarce  be 
heard.  Some  at  last  called  on  me  to  pray,  which  I  did  ;  and  for  a  time 
all  were  calm.  But  the  storm  soon  began  again.  Mr.  Hicks  then 
prayed,  and  afterward  Mr.  Berridge.  But  still,  though  some  received 
consolation,  others  remained  in  deep  sorrow  of  heart. 

1  See  W.H.S.  vol.  v.  p.  1S1. 


May  1759.]  The  Everton  Revival  321 

Upon  the  whole  I  remark,  that  few  ancient  people  experience  any- 
thing of  this  work  of  God  ;  and  scarce  any  of  the  rich.  These  generally 
show  either  an  utter  contempt  of  or  enmity  to  it.  Indeed,  so  did  Mr. 
Hicks  himself  some  time  since,  having  so  deep  an  aversion  to  it  that 
he  denied  the  sacrament  to  those  of  his  parish  who  went  to  hear  Mr. 
Berridge.  Neither  of  these  gentlemen  have  much  eloquence,  but  seem 
rather  weak  in  speech,  the  Lord  hereby  more  clearly  showing  that  this 
is  His  own  work.  It  extends  into  Cambridgeshire,  to  within  a  mile  of 
the  University,  and  about  as  far  into  Huntingdonshire  ;  but  flourishes 
most  of  all  in  the  eastern  and  northern  parts  of  Bedfordshire. 

There  were  three  farmers,  in  three  several  villages,  who  violently 
set  themselves  to  oppose  it,  and  for  a  time  they  kept  many  from  going 
to  hear  ;  but  all  three  died  in  about  a  month.  One  of  them  owned 
the  hand  of  the  Lord  was  upon  him,  and  besought  Him,  in  the  bitter- 
ness of  his  soul,  to  prolong  his  life,  vowing  to  hear  Mr.  Berridge  himself. 
But  the  Lord  would  not  be  entreated. 

The  violent  struggling  of  many  in  the  above-mentioned  churches 
has  broke  several  pews  and  benches.  Yet  it  is  common  for  people  to 
remain  unaffected  there,  and  afterward  drop  down  in  their  way  home. 
Some  have  been  found  lying  as  dead  in  the  road  ;  others,  in  Mr. 
Berridge's  garden,  not  being  able  to  walk  from  the  church  to  his  house, 
though  it  is  not  two  hundred  yards. 

I  have  since  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  B[erridge],  an  extract  of 
which  I  send  you : 

On  Sunday  se'nnight  a  man  of  Wyboston,  a  Nathanael  indeed,  was  so 
filled  with  the  love  of  God  during  morning  prayer  that  he  dropped  down, 
and  lay  as  one  dead  for  two  hours.  He  had  been  so  filled  with  love  all  the 
week  before  that  he  was  often  for  a  time  unable  to  work. 

On  Sunday  night  last,  as  I  was  speaking  in  my  house,  there  was  a  violent 
outcry.  One  soul  was  set  at  liberty.  We  sung  near  an  hour,  and  the  Lord 
released  three  more  out  of  captivity. 

On  Monday  se'nnight  Mr.  Hicks  accompanied  me  to  Meldreth.  On  the 
way  we  called  at  a  farmer's  house.  After  dinner  I  went  into  his  yard,  and, 
seeing  near  a  hundred  and  fifty  people,  I  called  for  a  table,  and  preached, 
for  the  first  time,  in  the  open  air.  Two  persons  were  seized  with  strong 
convictions,  fell  down,  and  cried  out  most  bitterly.  We  then  went  to 
Meldreth,  where  I  preached  in  a  field  to  about  four  thousand  people.  In 
the  morning,  at  five,  Mr.  Hicks  preached  in  the  same  field  to  about  a 
thousand.  And  now  the  presence  of  the  Lord  was  wonderfully  among  us. 
There  was  abundance  of  weeping  and  strong  crying,  and,  I  trust,  beside 
many  that  were  slightly  wounded,  near  thirty  received  true  heart-felt  con- 
viction. At  ten  we  returned  and  called  again  at  the  farmer's  house.  Seeing 
about  a  dozen  people  in  the  brewhouse,  I  spoke  a  few  words.  Immediately 
the  farmer's  daughter  dropped  down  in  strong  convictions.  Another  also 
was  miserably  torn  by  Satan,  but  set  at  liberty  before  I  had  done  prayer.    At 


J 


22  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Jnnei7»«. 


four  I  preached  in  my  own  house,  and  God  gave  the  Spirit  of  adoption  to 
another  mourner. 

On  Monday  last  I  went  to  Shelford,  four  miles  from  Cambridge,  near 
twenty  from  Everton.  The  journey  made  me  quite  ill,  being  so  weary  with 
riding  that  I  was  obliged  to  walk  part  of  the  way.  When  I  came  thither  a 
table  was  set  for  me  on  the  Common,  and,  to  my  great  surprise,  I  found 
near  ten  thousand  people  round  it,  among  whom  were  many  gownsmen  from 
Cambridge.  I  was  hardly  able  to  stand  on  my  feet,  and  extremely  hoarse 
with  a  cold.  When  I  lifted  up  my  foot  to  get  on  the  table,  a  horrible 
dread  overwhelmed  me  ;  but  the  moment  I  was  fixed  thereon  I  seemed  as 
unconcerned  as  a  statue.  I  gave  out  my  text  (Gal.  iii.  10,  n),  and  made  a 
pause,  to  think  of  something  pretty  to  set  off  with  ;  but  the  Lord  so  con- 
founded me  (as  indeed  it  was  meet,  for  I  was  seeking  not  His  glory,  but  my 
own),  that  I  was  in  a  perfect  labyrinth  ;  and  found,  if  I  did  not  begin  imme- 
diately, I  must  go  down  without  speaking.  So  I  broke  out  with  the  first 
word  that  occurred,  not  knowing  whether  I  should  be  able  to  add  any  more. 
Then  the  Lord  opened  my  mouth,  enabling  me  to  speak  near  an  hour,  with- 
out any  kind  of  perplexity  ;  and  so  loud  that  every  one  might  hear.  The 
audience  behaved  with  great  decency.  When  sermon  was  over,  I  found 
myself  so  cool  and  easy,  so  cheerful  in  spirit,  and  wonderfully  strengthened 
in  body,  I  went  into  a  house,  and  spoke  again  near  an  hour  to  about  two 
hundred  people.  In  the  morning  I  preached  again  to  about  a  thousand. 
Mr.  Hicks  engaged  to  preach  in  Orwell  Field  on  Tuesday  evening.  I  gave 
notice  that  I  designed  to  preach  on  Monday  se'nnight  at  Grantchester,  a 
mile  from  Cambridge. 

Mr.  Hicks  and  I  have  agreed  to  go  into  Hertfordshire  ;  afterwards  to 
separate,  and  go  round  the  neighbourhood,  preaching  in  the  fields,  wherever 
a  door  is  opened,  three  or  four  days  in  every  week.     Believe  me 

Your  affectionate  servant, 

John  Berridge. 

June  i,  Fri. — The  rain  began  when  we  took  horse,  and 
attended  us  all  the  way  to  Berwick.  When  I  was  tolerably 
dry  I  sent  to  the  mayor,  who  readily  granted  the  use  of  the 
town  hall.  Here  I  preached  about  seven  to  a  drowsy  con- 
gregation on  '  Why  will  ye  die,  O  house  of  Israel  ? '  And 
again,  a  little  after  seven  in  the  morning,  on  '  I  would  thou 
wert  either  cold  or  hot.'  In  the  evening  I  preached  in  the 
court-house  at  Alnwick  to  a  people  quite  of  another  spirit, 
having  the  power  as  well  as  the  form  of  godliness,  and  panting 
after  the  whole  image  of  God. 

Sun.  3  (being  Whit  Sunday). — I  preached  at  eight  in  the  court- 
house ;  but  it  was  much  crowded,  and  exceeding  hot.  So  in  the 
afternoon  I  went  to  the  Cross,  and  cried  aloud,  in  the  name  of  my 
Master,  '  If  any  man  thirst,  let  him  come  unto  Me  and  drink.' 


Jane  1769.]  Through  Northumbria  323 

Mon.  4. — I  preached  in  Plessey  Square  at  one  to  an  earnest, 
loving  congregation,  and  inquired  of  one  of  them,  James  Gillies, 
concerning  a  report  I  had  heard  the  day  before.  He  informed 
me  that  when  he  was  a  little  child  he  had  just  learned  his 
Christ-cross  row ! ;  but  this  he  soon  forgot.  Between  twenty 
and  thirty  he  was  deeply  convinced  of  sin,  at  which  time, 
feeling  a  strong  persuasion  he  could  read,  he  went  into  a 
neighbour's  house,  took  up  a  Bible,  and  read  distinctly,  which 
he  has  done  ever  since. 

After  preaching,  I  rode  on  to  Newcastle.  Certainly,  if  I  did 
not  believe  there  was  another  world,  I  should  spend  all  my 
summers  here,  as  I  know  no  place  in  Great  Britain  comparable 
to  it  for  pleasantness.  But  I  seek  another  country,  and  there- 
fore am  content  to  be  a  wanderer  upon  earth. 

Wed.  6. — I  preached  at  Gateshead  Fell  to  a  numerous 
congregation.  In  earnestness  the  colliers  of  Gateshead  utterly 
shame  the  colliers  of  Kingswood,  scarce  thirty  of  whom  think 
it  worth  while  to  hear  the  word  of  God  on  a  week-day,  not 
even  when  I  preach  ;  and  here  the  house  will  scarce  contain 
the  week-day  congregation  of  a  local  preacher. 

Sat.  9. — I  rode  to  Sunderland,  and  preached  in  the  shell 
of  their  house.2  The  people  of  this  town  likewise  are  hungry 
for  the  word,  and  receive  it  with  all  gladness. 

Sun.  10. — The  house  contained  us  at  eight,  but  at  one 
I  was  obliged  to  stand  in  the  great  street  and  declare  to  an 
attentive  multitude,  '  Ye  must  be  born  again.'  In  the  evening 
I  preached  to  some  thousands  at  Newcastle,  near  the  Keelmen's 
Hospital  ;  if  haply  God  might  bring  back  some  of  them  who 
ran  well  many  years  ago. 

Wed.  13. — After  preaching  at  the  Fell,  I  rode  to  Chester-[le- 


1  That   is   to   say,    the   alphabet,    the  room  at  the  top  of  Swine  Alley ;   then 

beginning  of  which  was  marked  in  the  in  a  house   in   Ettrick's  Garth   (where, 

old  horn-book  with  a  cross.  for   the   first   time,   they  had   space   for 

They  never  drew  a  look  or  motion  of  intelli-  a  pulpit).     The  third  place  was  a  barn 

gence  in    Society  Lane.     Sans   Street   Chapel 

From   infant-conning   of  the  Christ-cross  was  built  in   1 793,  and   was  opened  by 

'*'                                                  .  Dr.  Coke.    See  Tyerman,  vol.  ii.  p.  329 ; 

Wordsworth,  Excursion,  via.  „.  .,     „      .,     ,   __     ,  ...  ,r 

Meth.  Rec.  March  13,  1902  ;  and  IV.  M. 

-  This  was  the  fourth  meeting-house  Mag.    (article   on   '  Sunderland    Metho- 

of  the  Methodists  in  Sunderland.     Pre-  dism  in  the  Eighteenth  Century ')  1910, 

viously  they  had  worshipped  in  a  small  p.  165. 

VOL.   IV  20 


324  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [June  1759. 

Street].  The  congregation  was  deeply  serious,  both  in  the  even- 
ing and  at  five  in  the  morning.  Thence  we  crossed  the  country 
to  Newlands,  where  I  was  met  by  poor  John  Brown,1  who  has 
refrained  from  preaching  till  he  is  fallen  into  deep  despair. 
I  preached  on  '  I  will  heal  their  backsliding ' ;  but  the  word 
did  not  reach  his  heart. 

I  never  saw  near  so  large  a  congregation  at  Sheephill  as  we 
had  at  six  in  the  evening.  What  is  wanting  in  this  whole 
country  ?     Only  more  labourers.3 

Sat.  16. — I  rode  to  Widdrington,  and  preached  at  one  to 
a  congregation  gathered  from  all  parts.  The  court-house  at 
Alnwick  was  pretty  well  filled  in  the  evening ;  and  in  the 
morning,  Sunday  the  17th,  we  had  a  sound,  useful  sermon  at 
church,  and  a  serious,  well-behaved  congregation.  I  preached 
in  the  market-place  about  five,  and  I  trust  God  applied  the 
word,  '  Ye  must  be  born  again.' 

Mon.  18. — Having  an  uneasy  horse,  I  was  tired  enough 
when  we  came  into  Morpeth.  But,  after  resting  a  while,  I  was 
strengthened  to  preach  '  Christ  crucified  '  in  the  market-place, 
to  such  a  congregation  as  was  never  seen  there  before  ;  and 
a  solemn  awe  seemed  to  sit  on  every  face,  officers  and  gentle- 
men, as  well  as  common  people.  After  preaching  at  Plessey 
in  the  evening,  I  rode  back  to  Newcastle. 

Wed.  20. — I  endeavoured  to  compose  the  little  differences 
which  had  much  hurt  the  poor  people  at  Gateshead  Fell.  Oh 
what  zeal,  what  prudence  and  patience,  are  requisite  to  bear 
the  manners  of  an  untoward  people,  and  to  train  them  up  in 
Christian  discipline  till  they  come  to  the  full  stature  of  Christ ! s 

Thur.  21. — I  preached  at  Nafferton  4  at  one.  As  I  was  riding 
thence  one  stopped  me  on  the  road  and  said,  '  Sir,  do  not  you 
remember,  when  you  was  at  Prudhoe  two  years  since,  you  break- 
fasted at  Thomas  Newton's  ?  I  am  his  sister.  You  looked 
upon   me  as  you  was   going   out,  and    said,  "  Be    in    earnest." 


1  For  his  conversion  see  above,  vol.  iii.  Hopkins's  Exposition  of  the  Ten  Com- 
p.  53.  His  family  found  fault  with  him  mandmcnts — a  fine  example  of  Wesley's 
for  neglecting  his  farm.  skill  {Works,  vol.  xiv.  p.   240;  Green's 

2  On  Friday  the  15th  he  preached  at  Bibliography,  No.   193). 

Gateshead.  4  Seven  and  a  half  miles  north-east  of 

"  On  June  21  he  wrote  the  Preface  to  Hexham 


June  1759.]  Through  Northumbria  325 

I  knew  not  then  what  earnestness  meant,  nor  had  any  thought 
about  it  ;  but  the  words  sunk  into  my  heart,  so  that  I  could 
never  rest  any  more  till  I  sought  and  found  Christ.' 

Fri.  22. — I  rode  to  S[altwic]k  and  preached  to  my  old 
congregation    of    colliers    on    '  Why    will   ye   die,    O    house   of 

Israel?'      After   preaching,  a   servant   of   Mr.  came  and 

said,  '  Sir,  my  master  discharges  you  from  preaching  any 
more  on  his  ground,  not  out  of  any  disrespect  to  you  ;  but 
he  will  stand  by  the  Church.'  '  Simple  Master  Shallow  ! '  as 
Shakespeare  has  it.1     '  Wise  master  Rector,  his  counsellor.' 

Sat.  23.  —  I  spoke  to  each  of  the  society  in  Sunderland. 
Most  of  the  robbers,  commonly  called  smugglers,  have  left  us  ; 
but  more  than  twice  the  number  of  honest  people  are  already 
come  in  their  place.  And  if  none  had  come,  yet  should  I  not 
dare  to  keep  those  who  steal  either  from  the  King  or  subject. 

Sun.  24. — I  preached  in  the  street  at  eight,  about  one  at 
South  Shields,  and  at  five  in  North  Shields.  The  greatest 
part  of  them  seemed  to  hear  as  for  their  lives.  So  are  these 
lions  also  become  lambs.  Oh  for  zealous,  active,  faithful 
labourers !     How  white  are  the  fields  unto  the  harvest ! 

On  Monday  and  Tuesday  evening2  I  preached  abroad,  near 
the  Keelmen's  Hospital,  to  twice  the  people  we  should  have 
had  at  the  house.  What  marvel  the  devil  does  not  love  field- 
preaching  !  Neither  do  I :  I  love  a  commodious  room,  a  soft 
cushion,  a  handsome  pulpit.  But  where  is  my  zeal,  if  I  do 
not  trample  all  these  underfoot  in  order  to  save  one  more  soul  ? 

Thur.  28. — We  had  the  general  meeting  of  the  stewards, 
by  whom  I  found  the  societies  in  this  circuit  still  contain 
about  eighteen  hundred  members.  I  hope  not  many  of  these 
will  be  choked  by  the  thorns. 

Fri.  29. — About  eleven  I  set  out  for  Swalwell,3  in  a  fair, 
mild  morning  ;  but  in  half  an  hour  the  rain  poured  down, 
so  that  in  a  few  minutes  I  was  wet  from  head  to  foot ;  and 
when  1  came  thither,  where  to  preach  I  knew  not,  for  the  house 


1  See  W.H.S.  vol.  v.  p.  116.  Meeting   here,  built   in  1750,   and   lent 

■  On     Tuesday     the     26th     he     also  to  Wesley   when   he   visited   the   town. 

preached   at   Gateshead.  It  is  said  to  be  one  of  the  few  buildings  in 

*  See  Meth.   Rec.    Winter  No.,   1904,  England  not  restored  in  which  Wesley 

p.  37,    for  picture   of  the    Presbyterian  is  known  to  have  preached. 


326  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Juiyi769. 

would  not  contain  a  third  of  the  people.  Just  then  the 
Dissenting  minister  sent  to  offer  me  the  use  of  his  meeting- 
house.1 I  went  thither  without  delay.  There  was  a  large 
congregation,  and  a  blessing  in  the  midst  of  them. 

Sat.  30. — I  preached  in  Winlaton  Mill  at  noon.  The  sun 
was  very  hot,  and  shone  full  upon  my  head  ;  but  the  wind  was 
very  high  and  very  cold,  so  that  the  one  tempered  the  other 
while  I  was  declaring  the  grace  of  God  to  a  well-meaning 
multitude,  who  know  little  as  yet,  but  are  willing  to  know 
'  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus.'  I  preached  at  Sheephill  in  the 
evening,  and  returned  to  Newcastle  as  fresh  as  I  was  in  the 
morning. 

JULY  i,2  Sun. — Between  eight  and  nine  I  preached  to  a 
quiet  multitude  in  Gateshead.  At  two  I  preached  in  the  Fell, 
to  the  largest  congregation  which  had  ever  been  seen  there  ; 
and  in  the  evening,  near  the  Keelmen's  Hospital,  to  full  as 
many  as  my  voice  would  reach.  It  was  a  season  of  love; 
and  God  caused  the  mountains  to  flow  down  at  His  presence. 
While  the  society  was  gathering  I  went  to  a  young  woman 
who  was,  some  days  since,  suddenly  struck  with  what  they 
called  madness  ;  and  so  it  was,  but  a  diabolical  madness,  as 
plainly  appeared  from  numerous  circumstances.  However, 
after  we  had  been  at  prayer  she  fell  asleep,  and  never  raged 
or  blasphemed  after. 

Mon.  2. — I  rode  to  Durham,  and  went  at  one  to  the 
meadow  by  the  river-side,  where  I  preached  two  years  ago.3 
The  congregation  was  now  larger  by  one-half ;  but  the  sun  was 
so  scorching  hot  upon  my  head  that  I  was  scarce  able  to  speak. 
I  paused  a  little,  and  desired  God  would  provide  us  a  covering, 
if  it  was  for  His  glory.  In  a  moment  it  was  done  :  a  cloud 
covered  the  sun,  which  troubled  us  no  more.  Ought  voluntary 
humility  to  conceal  these  palpable  proofs  that  God  still  heareth 
the  prayer? 

Between  two  and  three  we  took  horse.  The  sun  now  shone 
again,  and  with  so  intense  a  heat  that  I  know  not  how  we 
could  have  endured  it  but  that  the  wind  came  in  our  face,  by 


1  See   Rev.    R.    Butterworth's    article  "  On  this  date  he  wrote  to  an  unnamed 

on    the    Dissenters   (W.H.S.   vol.    viii.       friend  ( Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  230). 
pp.  25-29).  3  See  above,  p.  222. 


July  1759.)  Original  Sin  327 

the  help  of  which  we  got  pretty  well  to  Hartlepool.     I  suppose 
we  had  all  the  town  with  us  in  the  evening,  cither  in  the  street 
or  the  adjoining  houses.     And  God  was  pleased  to  touch  the 
hearts  of  many,  even  among  this  dull,  heavy,  sleepy  people. 
Tues.  3. — I  wrote  to  Dr.  Taylor  as  follows  1 : 

Hartlepool,  July  3,  1759. 

Rev.  Sir, 

I  esteem  you  as  a  person  of  uncommon  sense  and  learning  ;  but 
your  doctrine  I  cannot  esteem.  And  some  time  since  I  believed  it 
my  duty  to  speak  my  sentiments  at  large  concerning  your  doctrine  of 
Original  Sin.2  When  Mr.  Newton,3  of  Liverpool,  mentioned  this,  and 
asked  whether  you  designed  to  answer,  you  said  you  thought  not ;  for 
it  would  only  be  a  personal  controversy  between  John  Wesley  and  John 
Taylor.  How  gladly,  if  I  durst,  would  I  accept  of  this  discharge  from 
so  unequal  a  contest  !  For  I  am  thoroughly  sensible,  humanly  speaking, 
it  is  formica  contra  leonem.*  How  gladly  were  it  indeed  no  other  than 
a  personal  controversy  !  But  certainly  it  is  not  :  it  is  a  controversy 
de  re,  if  ever  there  was  one  in  the  world.  Indeed,  concerning  a  thing 
of  the  highest  importance  ;  nay,  all  the  things  that  concern  our  eternal 
peace.  It  is  Christianity  or  Heathenism  !  For  take  away  the  scriptural 
doctrine  of  redemption,  or  justification,  and  that  of  the  new  birth,  the 
beginning  of  sanctification  ;  or,  which  amounts  to  the  same,  explain 
them  as  you  do,  suitably  to  your  doctrine  of  Original  Sin  ;  and  what  is 
Christianity  better  than  Heathenism  ?  Wherein  (save  in  rectifying 
some  of  our  notions)  has  the  religion  of  St.  Paul  any  pre-eminence  over 
that  of  Socrates  or  Epictetus  ? 

This  is  therefore,  to  my  apprehension,  the  least  a  personal  controversy 
of  any  in  the  world.  Your  person  and  mine  are  out  of  the  question. 
The  point  is,  Are  those  things  that  have  been  believed  for  many  ages 


1  This  letter  appears  in  Works,  vol.  ix.  in    1761.      Writing   to   Sir   Harry   Tre- 

p.  465.  lawney,  Wesley  says  :  '  I  have  reason  to 

-  Wesley's    treatise    on  Original  Sin  believe  he  was  convinced  of  his  mistake 

has  always  been  regarded  as  the  ablest  before  he  died,  but  to  acknowledge  this 

refutation  of  the  Socinian  errors  respect-  publicly  was  too  hard  a  task  for  him.' 

ing  original  sin.     The  controversy  was  at  See    Tyerman's    Life,    vol.    ii.    p.   294 ; 

no  time  bitter.     The  respectful  challenge  Moore's   Life,  vol.   ii.   p.  408  ;    Works, 

of  this  letter  was  not  accepted,  but  before  vol.  xiii.  p.  146  ;  Green's  Wesley  Biblio- 

his  death  Taylor  wrote  A   Reply  to  the  graphy, No.  182;   W.H.S.  vol.  viii.  p.  53. 

Rev.  fo/tn     Wesley's    Remarks    on    the  '  Rev.    John   Newton,    afterwards   of 

Scripture  Doctrine  of  Original  Sin.  This  Olney  ;  cf.  above,  p.  256  ;  below,  p.  373. 

pamphlet  was  published  posthumously,  '  '  An  ant  opposed  to  a  lion.'     Pro- 

and  a  copy  is  in    the    library  of   the  bably  a  saying  in  proverbial  use.  (W.H.S. 

Wesleyan  Book-Room.     Dr.  Taylor  died  vol.  v.  p.  48.) 


328  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [Juiyi75». 

throughout  the  Christian  world  real  solid  truths,  or  monkish  dreams  and 
vain  imaginations? 

But  farther,  it  is  certain  between  you  and  me  there  need  be  no 
personal  controversy  at  all.  For  we  may  agree  to  leave  each  other's 
person  and  character  absolutely  untouched,  while  we  sum  up  and 
answer  the  several  arguments  advanced,  as  plainly  and  closely  as 
we  can. 

Either  I  or  you  mistake  the  whole  of  Christianity  from  the  begin- 
ning to  the  end.  Either  my  scheme  or  yours  is  as  contrary  to  the 
scriptural  as  the  Koran  is.  Is  it  mine,  or  yours  ?  Yours  has  gone 
through  all  England,  and  made  numerous  converts.  I  attack  it  from 
end  to  end ;  let  all  England  judge  whether  it  can  be  defended 
or  not. 

Earnestly  praying  that  God  may  give  you  and  me  a  right  under- 
standing in  all  things,  I  am,  reverend  sir, 

Your  servant  for  Christ's  sake, 

J[ohn]  W[esley]. 

Wed.  4. — Mr.  [Joseph]  Jones  x  preached  at  five,  I  at  eight. 
Toward  the  close  of  the  sermon  a  queer,  dirty,  clumsy  man,  I 
suppose  a  country  wit,  took  a  great  deal  of  pains  to  disturb  the 
congregation.  When  I  had  done,  fearing  he  might  hurt  those 
who  were  gathered  about  him,  I  desired  two  or  three  of  our 
brethren  to  go  to  him,  one  after  the  other,  and  not  say  much 
themselves,  but  let  him  talk  till  he  was  wear)'.  They  did  so, 
but  without  effect,  as  his  fund  of  ribaldry  seemed  inexhaustible. 
W[illiam]  A[lwood]  2  then  tried  another  way.  He  got  into  the 
circle  close  to  him,  and,  listening  awhile,  said,  '  That  is  pretty  ; 
pray  say  it  over  again.'  '  What !  are  you  deaf?'  '  No  ;  but  for 
the  entertainment  of  the  people.  Come  ;  we  are  all  attention.' 
After  repeating  this  twice  or  thrice,  the  wag  could  not  stand  it ; 
but,  with  two  or  three  curses,  walked  clear  off. 

In  the  evening  I  began  near  Stockton  market-place  as  usual. 
I  had  hardly  finished  the  hymn  when  I  observed  the  people  in 
great  confusion,  which  was  occasioned  by  a  lieutenant  of  a  man- 
of-war,  who  had  chosen  that  time  to  bring  his  press-gang,  and 
ordered  them  to  take  Joseph  Jones  and  William  Alwood. 
Joseph  Jones  telling  him, '  Sir,  I  belong  to  Mr.  Wesley,'  after  a  few 


1  For  whom  see  Atmore's  Memorial,       and  left  it  in  1764.     See  above,  p.  282, 
p.  225.  and   Everett's   Methodism    in    Sheffield, 

2  He  entered  the  itinerancy  in    1756,       pp.  107,  120. 


JuiyiT89.j  In  the  North  Riding  329 

words  he  let  him  go,  as  he  did  likewise  William  Alwood  after  a 
few  hours,  understanding  he  was  a  licensed  preacher.  He  like- 
wise seized  upon  a  young  man  of  the  town  ;  but  the  women 
rescued  him  by  main  strength.  They  also  broke  the  lieutenant's 
head,  and  so  stoned  both  him  and  his  men  that  they  ran  away 
with  all  speed. 

Fri.  6. — I  rode  on  to  Yarm.1  The  heat  of  the  day  was 
hardly  to  be  borne ;  but  in  the  evening  it  was  extremely 
pleasant,  and  the  whole  congregation  were  deeply  serious. 

Sat.  7. — At  one  I  was  at  Hutton  Rudby,2  six  miles  south 
of  Yarm,  where  they  have  just  built  a  preaching-house,  but  it 
would  not  contain  a  fourth  of  the  congregation  ;  and  what  place 
to  choose  I  could  not  tell,  no  shade  being  at  hand  and  the  sun 
shining  near  as  hot  as  it  used  to  do  in  Georgia.  Finding  no 
other  way,  I  stood  in  the  street,  near  an  house,  which  sheltered 
some  of  the  people ;  the  rest  seemed  not  to  know  whether  it 
was  hot  or  cold,  God  so  plenteously  refreshed  their  souls.  Much 
the  same  congregation  was  at  Potto  in  the  evening,  and  with 
the  same  blessing. 

Having  preached  considerably  longer,  both  at  noon  and  night, 


1  For    three   years    service   here   was  ing  old  carriage,  with  a  bookcase  inside 

conducted  in  a  hay-loft.     A  chapel  was  it.'      She  and  another  little  girl,  while 

then  substituted  (1763),  and  Yarm,  which  playing,    ran   the   pole   of   the    carriage 

has  had  a  momentous  place  in  eighteenth  through  Mr.  Merryweather's  window,  for 

and  nineteenth  century  Methodism,  be-  which   they   received   a   scolding.      She 

came  the  head  of  a    circuit,  comprising  further  stated  that  on  one  occasion,  when 

Stockton,      Hartlepool,       Guisborough,  Mr.      Merryweather's     servant     entered 

Stokesley,  Whitby,  Thirsk,  Ripon,  North-  Wesley's  room,  she  found  his  coachman 

allerton,  and  thirty  other  places.     In  the  rolling  himself  vigorously  up  and  down 

Missionary  Report  for  1912  the  figures  for  the  feather-bed,   because  Wesley  would 

the   circuits    covered     by    these    names  not  sleep  on  it  until  it  was  made  as  hard 

show    at    least    200    places.      Wesley's  as  possible. 

home  in  Yarm  was  always  with  Mr.  2  An  ancient  village,  eight  miles  from 
Merryweather  (see  letters  to  him  in  Osmotherley.  The  houses  stand  far 
Works,  vol.  xii.  pp.  269-271— seven  back  from  a  tree-shaded  green.  Car- 
letters  that  throw  light  on  Yarm  and  dinal  Wolsey  was  once  rector  of  the 
its  Methodism  and  on  Wesley's  methods  parish,  and  a  monastery  stood  in  the 
and  principles).  See  'John  Wesley  in  meadows  by  the  river.  In  the  days  of 
the  North  Riding,'  Wesley  Studies,  pp.  Wesley  the  place  was  the  centre  of  a 
220-6.  An  old  Methodist  who  lived  in  great  linen  trade,  carried  on  in  the 
the  town,  and  who  well  remembered  cottages  on  hand-looms.  When  two  or 
Wesley,  thus  describes  his  appearance —  three  webs  were  finished  they  were 
'  his  cassock,  his  black  silk  stockings,  placed  on  each  side  of  a  pony"s  back 
his  large  silver  buckles,  and  bis  lumber-  and  carried  to  Newcastle. 


330  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Juiyrrog. 

than  I  am  accustomed  to  do,  I  was  so  hoarse  in  the  morning, 
Sunday  the  8th,  that  I  knew  not  what  I  should  do  to  go  through 
the  work  of  the  day.  However,  I  began  it  by  preaching  on  the 
Green  at  Stokesley  to  a  multitude  of  people.  Thence  I  rode 
to  Guisborough,  at  the  foot  of  the  mountains.  The  sun  would 
have  been  insupportable  but  that  we  had  a  strong  wind  full  in 
our  face  for  the  greatest  part  of  the  day.  At  twelve  we  had  a 
lovely  congregation  in  a  meadow  near  the  town,  who  drank  in 
every  word  that  was  spoken,  as  the  thirsty  earth  the  showers. 
The  sixteen  miles,  so  called,  from  hence  to  Robin  Hood's  Bay, 
took  us  between  five  and  six  hours'  riding,  so  that  when  I  came 
thither  I  was  quite  exhausted.  However,  I  went  to  the  quay, 
where  a  large  congregation  was  waiting  ;  and  all  behaved  well 
but  an  honest  tar,  who  was  much  disturbed  at  my  saying, 
'  No  man  is  delivered  from  the  fear  of  death  but  he  that  fears 
God.' 

Tues.  10. — We  took  horse  at  half  an  hour  past  three,  and 
rode  over  the  huge  mountains  to  Scarborough.1  I  began  to 
preach  near  the  main  street  at  seven.  The  congregation  was 
large,  and  some  of  them  wild  .enough  ;  but  in  a  short  time  all 
were  quiet  and  still,  nor  did  I  hear  one  unkind  word  when  I 
had  done. 

In  the  afternoon  I  rode  to  York,  where  I  thought  to  rest 
a  few  days,  being  almost  worn  out ;  but  it  was  judged  quite 
necessary  I  should  go  to  Hull,  lest  the  little  flock  should  be 
discouraged.  So,  on  Friday  the  13th,  I  set  out  early  and 
reached  Pocklington  between  eight  and  nine.     The  last  time  I 


1  For  early  Methodism  in  Scarborough  an  opportunity  for  Brown,  a  freeman  of 
see  articles  in  Meth.  Ret.  Feb.  16,  April  Durham,  to  write  General  Lambton, 
20,  and  June  8,  1905.  See  also  below,  M.P.,  who  ordered  their  immediate 
April  19,  1764.  In  1760  Mr.  George  release.  Mr.  Bland,  a  Quaker,  further 
Cussons.of  London,  who  figured  so  largely  interposed  against  civilian  persecution, 
in  the  history  of  West  Street,  Hinde  Between  1761  and  1765  larger  premises 
Street,  and  Great  Queen  Street,  and  who  were  obtained  in  Bennett's  entry  or 
founded  the  Naval  and  Military  Bible  Foster's  yard,  near  the  present  market- 
Society,  joined  the  Scarborough  society.  hall.  Here  William  Alwood,  appointed 
Thomas  Brown,  Cussons,  and  William  preacher,  had  to  escape  by  getting  out 
Hague  were  seized  by  the  press-gang  of  the  window.  See  Meth.  Ree. 
and  taken  on  board  a  man-of-war  lying  Feb.  16,  1905  ;  Lyth's  Methodism  in 
off  the  shore.  An  unfavourable  wind  York,  p.  96;  and  IV.M.  Mag.  1826, 
delayed  the  sailing  of  the  ship  and  gave  p.  594. 


July  1739.1 


In  the    West  Riding  331 


was  here  they  rang  the  bells,  in  order  to  drown  my  voice.  But 
he  who  then  paid  the  ringers  is  run  away  ;  so  I  had  a  quiet  and 
serious  audience.  I  had  a  far  finer  congregation  at  Hull  ;  so, 
for  once,  the  rich  have  the  gospel  preached ! 

At  night  Charles  Delamotte  l  called  upon  me,  and 
seemed  to  be  the  same  loving,  simple  man  still.  I  should 
not  repent  my  journey  to  Hull,  were  it  only  for  this  short 
interview. 

Sat.  14. —  I  preached  at  eight  in  Mr.  Hilton's  yard,  near  the 
great  street  in  Beverley  ;  and  was  surprised  to  see  so  quiet  and 
civil  a  congregation,  where  we  expected  nothing  less.  All  the 
men  were  uncovered,  and  the  whole  audience  was  attentive 
from  beginning  to  end  ;  nor  did  one  person  give  us  a  rude  word 
while  we  rode  from  one  end  of  the  town  to  the  other.  This, 
with  the  large  and  earnest  congregation  at  York  in  the  evening, 
made  me  forget  all  my  labour.2 

Sun.  15. — I  began  reading  to  the  society  an  account  of  the 
late  work  of  God  at  Everton  ;  but  I  could  not  get  through. 
At  first  there  were  only  silent  tears  on  every  side,  but  it  was 
not  long  before  several  were  unable  to  refrain  from  weeping 
aloud  ;  and  quickly  a  stout  young  man  dropped  down  and 
roared  as  in  the  agonies  of  death.  I  did  not  attempt  to  read 
any  farther,  but  began  wrestling  with  God  in  prayer.  We 
continued  herein  till  near  nine  o'clock.  What  a  day  of 
Jubilee  was  this  ! 3 

Tues.  17. — I  left  York,  and,  about  noon,  preached  at 
Tadcaster.  Distant  thunder  did  not  lessen  the  number,  but 
increased  the  seriousness,  of  the  congregation,  who  appeared 
entirely  different  from  those  I  saw  here  two  years  ago. 

At  seven  in  the  evening  I  preached  to  an  immense  con- 
gregation at  the  foot  of  a  high  mountain  near  Otley.4 


'  Then  living  at  Barrow,  near  Barton,  2  In  the   new    chapel  in    Peaseholme 

Lincolnshire.    See  W.H.S.  vol.ii.  pp.  88-  Green  (Lyth's  Methodism  in  York,  p.  91). 

90;  iv.  10, 11  ;  vii.  20.  The  interview  may  3  On  July  15  he  wrote  to  Miss  C 

have   taken    place    at    Mrs.   Snowden's  (IV.  M.  Mag.  1847,  p.  766). 

house  (see  above,  p.  20).     During  four-  4  See  also  June  30,  1772,  and  May  i, 

teen  years  she  furnished  a  house  for  Wesley  2,3,1774.     John  Crowther  was  vicar  of 

and  his  pttachers  in  YL\x\\(W.M.  Mag.  Otley  from   April    1739.      The    'high 

J 837,  p.  8891.  mountain  '  would  be  Otley  Chevin. 


332  John   Wesley  s  Journal  tJuiynsa 

Wed.  1 8. — I  rode  on  to  Mr.  Marshal's,1  at  Guiseley,  the 
Capua  of  Yorkshire.2 

Hie  nemus,  hie  gelidi  fontes,  hie  mollia  prata.3 

It  is  well  God  is  here,  or  who  could  bear  it  ? 

Hence  we  rode  to  Keighley,  where  is  a  loving,  earnest, 
well-established  people.  Here  many  of  our  preachers  met  me, 
and  many  of  our  brethren  ;  and  God  was  with  us  in  all  our 
assemblies. 

Fri.  20. — We  went  on  to  Colne  (formerly,  I  suppose,  a 
Roman  colony),  situate  on  the  top  of  a  high  round  hill,  at 
the  edge  of  Pendle  Forest.  I  preached  at  eleven  in  an  open 
space  not  far  from  the  main  street,  and  I  have  seldom  seen 
a  more  attentive  or  decently  behaved  congregation.  How  is 
the  scene  changed  since  the  drunken  mob  of  this  town  used  to 
be  a  terror  to  all  the  country  ! 

We  rode  to  Broad  Clough  in  the  afternoon,  a  lone  house  in 
the  midst  of  the  Lancashire  mountains.  The  people  came  in 
from  all  quarters,  and  it  was  a  season  of  great  refreshment. 
Among  the  rest  was  Mr.  M[ilne]r,4  who  gave  us  an  account  of 
his  late  trials.  I  wonder  the  butcher  (doctor,  so  called)  to 
whom  he  was  committed  did  not  murder  him  ;  he  took  true 
pains  so  to  do,  but  his  chain  did  not  reach  so  far. 

Sat.  21. — Mr.  Grimshaw  led  us  to  Gaulksholme,5  another 
lone  house  on  the  side  of  an  enormous  mountain.  The  con- 
gregation stood  and  sat,  row  above  row,  in  the  sylvan  theatre. 
I  believe  nothing  on  the  post-diluvian  earth  can  be  more  pleasant 
than  the  road  from  hence,  between  huge  steep  mountains, 
clothed  with  wood  to  the  top,  and  washed  at  the  bottom  by 
a  clear,  winding  stream.  At  four  I  preached  to  a  very  large 
congregation  at  Heptonstall,  and  thence  rode  on  to  Haworth. 

Sun.  22. — At  ten  Mr.  Milner  read  prayers,  but  the  church 
would  not  near  contain  the  congregation  ;  so,  after  prayers,  I 


1  Cf.     Life     oj     Richard    Burdsall,  mollia  prata,  Lycori,   hie  nemus '   (imi- 
pp.    177,178.  tated  by  Virgil  from  Theocritus).      As  on 

2  In  allusion  to   '  Capua  Hannibalem  another   occasion,    when    quoting    from 
corrupit'  ( IV. U.S.  vol.  v.  p.  48).  Virgil,  Wesley  so  alters  as  to  keep  the 

*  'Here   a   grove,  here  coo!    springs,  prosody  (IV.H.S.  vol.  v.  p.  48). 

here  smooth  lawns.'  Altered  from  Virgil,  *  Mr.  Milner,  vicar  of  Chipping. 

Eel.  x.  42,  43.     'Hie  gelidi  fontes,  hie  5  See  above,  p.  212. 


July  1759.)  In  the    West  Riding  333 

stood  on  a  scaffold  close  to  the  church,  and  the  congregation  in 
the  churchyard.  The  communicants  alone  filled  the  church. 
In  the  afternoon  the  congregation  was  nearly  doubled  ;  and 
yet  most  of  these  were  not  curious  hearers,  but  men  fearing 
God. 

Mon.  23. — I  preached,  near  Huddersfield,  to  the  wildest  con- 
gregation I  have  seen  in  Yorkshire  ;  yet  they  were  restrained 
by  an  unseen  hand,  and  I  believe  some  felt  the  sharpness  of  His 
word.  I  preached  at  Halifax  in  the  evening  ;  but  the  preaching- 
house  was  like  an  oven.1 

Tues.  24. — The  house  was  well  filled  at  five.  About  seven 
in  the  evening  I  preached  at  Bradford,  at  the  door  of  the  house, 
as  it  could  not  contain  one-half  of  the  congregation. 

Wed.  25. — I  talked  with  most  of  those  whom  Edward  Hales2 
had  torn  from  their  brethren.  Just  as  he  was  coming  to  widen 
the  breach  it  pleased  God  to  take  him  to  Himself.  The 
wanderers  were  now  willing  to  return,  and  I  received  them 
again,  I  trust,  for  ever. 

Thicr.  26. — I  preached  in  Gildersome  at  noon,  and  at 
Morley  in  the  evening.  A  flame  suddenly  broke  out  here, 
where  it  was  least  of  all  expected,  and  it  spreads  wider  and 
wider.  When  God  will  work,  who  is  able  to  stay  His 
hand  ? 3 

Sun.  29. — I  preached  about  eight  at  Birstall.  The  con- 
gregation covered  a  great  part  of  the  field,  and  my  voice  was 
exceedingly  strengthened,  so  that  I  believe  all  could  hear.  At 
one  I  enforced  those  solemn  words  on  an  immense  multitude : 
'  This  is  life  eternal,  to  know  Thee,  the  only  true  God,  and  Jesus 
Christ  whom  Thou  hast  sent.' 

I  shall  easily  be  excused  for  adding  here  a  farther  account 
of  the  work  of  God  in  and  near  Everton  4 : 


1  The  room  was  only  42  ft.  by  30  It.  *  On  Tuesday  the  27th  he  preached  at 

!  '  A     young     man    from    Wakefield  Batley  Carr. 

who  had   preached  among  the  seceding  '  H.J.  Foster's  note  on  the  authorship 

party  '  (i.e.  some  of  the  society  who  had  of  this  '  farther  account '  is  convincing  : 

adopted  Calvinistic  tenets).    See  Stamp's  '  The   writer    incidentally    mentions   his 

Methodism  in  Bradford,  pp.  39,  40,  and  sex  [see  p.  339,  end  of  second  paragraph], 

Dickon's    Kirkgate    Chapel,    Bradford,  "Made    aie  another  man,"  or  else  we 

PP-  33>  34-  might   have  suspected    Mrs.    Blackwell 


334  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Juiyrzeg 

On  Monday,  July  9,  I  set  out,  and  on  Wednesday  noon  reached 
Potton,  where  I  rejoiced  at  the  account  given  by  John  Keeling  of 
himself  and  others.  He  was  justified,  it  seems,  on  that  memorable 
Sabbath,1  but  had  not  a  clear  witness  of  it  till  ten  days  after ;  about 
which  time  his  sister  (who  was,  on  that  day,  in  great  distress)  was  also 
set  at  liberty.  I  discoursed  also  with  Ann  Thorn,  who  told  me  of 
much  heaviness  following  the  visions  with  which  she  had  been  favoured  ; 
but  said  she  was  at  intervals  visited  still  with  such  overpowering  love 
and  joy,  especially  at  the  Lord's  Supper,  that  she  often  lay  in  a  trance 
for  many  hours.  She  is  twenty-one  years  old.  We  were  soon  after 
called  into  the  garden,  where  Patty  Jenkins  (one  of  the  same  age)  was 
so  overwhelmed  with  the  love  of  God  that  she  sunk  down,  and 
appeared  as  one  in  a  pleasant  sleep,  only  with  her  eyes  open  ;  yet  she 
had  often  just  strength  to  utter,  with  a  low  voice,  ejaculations  of  joy 
and  praise ;  but,  no  words  coming  up  to  what  she  felt,  she  frequently 
laughed  while  she  saw  His  glory.  This  is  quite  unintelligible  to  many ; 
for  a  stranger  intermeddleth  not  with  our  joy.  So  it  was  to  Mr.  M[adan], 
who  doubted  whether  God  or  the  devil  had  filled  her  with  love  and 
praise.  Oh  the  depth  of  human  wisdom  !  Mr.  Rfomaine],  the  mean- 
time, was  filled  with  a  solemn  awe.  I  no  sooner  sat  down  by  her  than 
the  Spirit  of  God  poured  the  same  blessedness  into  my  soul.  Hers 
continued  till  the  time  we  were  to  set  out  for  Cockaigne-Hatley.  Then 
her  strength  was  restored  in  a  moment,  and  we  walked  together, 
sixteen  in  number,  singing  to  the  Lord  as  we  went  along. 

Mr.  Hicks  preached  an  excellent  sermon  on  the  Strait  Gate.  The 
next  morning,  Thursday,  12,  he  gave  me  leave  to  take  an  extract  from 
his  Journal ;  but  I  had  only  time  to  write  the  occurrences  of  one 
morning,  as  follows  : 

June  6,  1759. — I  spoke  this  morning,  at  Orwell,  on  Isa.  lv  1.  One 
who  had  been  before  convinced  of  sin  fell  down  in  a  kind  of  fit,  and  broke 
out,  in  great  anguish  of  soul,  calling  on  the  Lord  Jesus  for  salvation.     He 


once    more,    for,    very    curiously,    this  we  are  examining  the  writer  says  :  "  The 

second  reporter  also  finds  it  exceedingly  first   time   I  saw   Mr.  Berridge  was  on 

difficult   to   rise   early  !     He   repeatedly  June    2,    1758."      Near    the    beginning 

bewails  his  infirmity.  .  .  .  The  writer  is  also  it  will  be  noted  that  on  July  9  he 

John  Walsh,  a  converted   Deist,  and  a  reports    the    remarkable    case    of    Ann 

correspondent  of  Wesley.     In  the  Arm.  Thorn,  her  visions  and  trances.    Berridge 

Mag.  for  1780,  p.  103, isa  letter  from  him  himself  writes  to  Wesley  on  July  16,  1759, 

to  Wesley,    dated  June  21,    1758,    and  a  week  later:   "I  would  not  have  you 

giving  some  interesting  particulars  of  a  publish  the  account  of  A.  T.  [Ann  Thorn] 

visit  he  has  paid  to  Bedford.    Incidentally  which  Mr.  Walsh  has  sent  you."  '     This 

he  tells  Wesley  that  on  the  second  of  June  is  fairly   conclusive.     (IV.//.S.    vol.    iv. 

he  walked  over  with  "  Brother  Tansley  "  pp.  22-4.)     For  John  Walsh  see  Arm. 

from  Bedford  to  Everton  to  see  and  hear  Mag.  1781,  pp.  209-211. 
Berridge.    Near  the  end  of  the  account  '  See  above,  p.  317. 


July  1759.]  The    Work  near  Everton  335 

wrought  as  in  the  agonies  of  death,  and  was  quite  bathed  in  sweat. 
He  beat  the  chair  against  which  he  kneeled,  as  one  whose  soul  drew  nigh 
unto  hell.  His  countenance  then  cleared  up  at  once  :  we  hoped  he  would 
be  presently  set  at  liberty  ;  but  on  a  sudden  he  was  more  distressed  than 
ever,  being  in  the  sharpest  conflict.  Every  muscle  of  his  body  was  in  strong 
agitation,  as  if  nature  was  just  dissolving.  I  never  saw  any  convulsion  fit 
so  violent.  But  in  a  moment  God  dispelled  the  cloud.  His  face  was  again 
covered  with  smiles,  and  he  spake  as  seeing  the  Lord  near  him.  He  cried 
unto  Him,  and,  the  Lord  hearing,  pronounced  him  freely  forgiven.  At  that 
instant  he  clapped  his  hands  and  cried  aloud,  'Jesus  is  mine  1  He  is  my 
Saviour  ! '  His  soul  was  in  peace  ;  neither  did  he  find  the  least  bodily  pain 
or  soreness.  I  asked,  '  For  what  would  you  undergo  this  again  ? '  He  said, 
4  Not  for  all  the  world  ;  but  I  would  suffer  more  rather  than  be  without 
Christ  ;  yea,  for  His  sake,  I  would  suffer  all  things.'  'An  unwise  man  doth 
not  consider  this  ;  a  fool  doth  not  understand  it.' 

This  morning,  Ann  Simpson,  aged  sixteen  or  seventeen,  lay  near  an 
hour  in  the  utmost  distress,  shrieking  out,  '  Christ  !  Christ  ! !  and  no  other 
word,  her  face  all  the  time  being  violently  distorted.  I  left  her  awhile,  but 
could  scarce  sit  down  before  I  heard  the  voice  of  praise.  I  went,  and  found 
her  heaviness  turned  into  joy,  even  the  joyful  assurance  that  her  sins  were 
pardoned.  She  sprang  by  me  to  a  young  woman  who  lay  in  a  kind  of 
trance,  and  clasped  her  in  her  arms,  breathing  forth  praise  to  God.  I  retired 
again,  but  had  not  been  long  seated  ere  she  came  in,  running  to  me  in  a 
transport  of  praise.  I  asked  her  why  she  cried  out  continually,  '  Christ  ! 
Christ  ! '  She  answered,  '  I  thought  myself  at  that  time  on  a  little  island, 
and  saw  Satan,  in  a  hideous  form,  just  ready  to  devour  me,  hell  all  around 
open  to  receive  me,  and  myself  ready  to  drop  in  ;  while  no  help  appeared, 
nor  any  way  to  escape.  But,  just  as  I  was  dropping  in,  the  Lord  appeared 
between  me  and  the  great  gulf,  and  would  not  let  me  fall  into  it.  As  soon  as 
I  saw  Him  all  my  trouble  was  gone,  and  all  the  pain  I  felt  before ;  and 
ever  since  I  have  been  light  and  joyful,  and  filled  with  the  love  of  God.' 

So  far  Mr.  Hicks,  who  told  me  he  was  first  convinced  of  sin 
August  i,  1758,  and,  finding  peace  in  about  six  weeks,  first  preached 
the  gospel  on  September  17.  From  that  time  he  was  accounted  a  fool 
and  a  madman.  About  two  thousand  souls  seem  to  have  been 
awakened  by  Mr.  B[erridge]  and  him  within  this  twelvemonth. 

Fri.  13. — Mr.  R[omaine],  as  well  as  Mr.  M[adan],  was  in  doubt 
concerning  the  work  of  God  here.  But  this  morning  they  were  both 
fully  convinced,  while  Alice  Miller,  the  little  pale  girl,  justified  May  20, 
who  is  in  the  sixteenth,  and  Molly  Raymond,  who  is  in  the  twelfth, 
year  of  her  age,  related  their  experience,  their  artless  confidence  con- 
firming all  their  words.  We  walked  this  forenoon  to  Tadlow,  in 
Cambridgeshire,  to  hear  Mr.  B[erridge],  but  came  too  late  for  the 
sermon.  However,  the  account  we  received  of  the  wonderful  works  of 
God  in  this  and  the  neighbouring  places  was  matter  of  great 
rejoicing  to  me,  as  are  all  manifestations  of  the  world  to  come. 


33^  John   Wesley  s  Journal  rJuiyrw. 

Sat.  14. — Mr.  B[erridge],  being  ill,  desired  me  to  exhort  a  few 
people  in  his  house,  which  the  Lord  enabled  me  to  do  with  such  ease 
and  power  that  I  was  quite  amazed.  The  next  morning,  at  seven,  his 
servant,  Caleb  Price,  spoke  to  about  two  hundred  people.  The  Lord 
was  wonderfully  present,  more  than  twenty  persons  feeling  the  arrows 
of  conviction.  Several  fell  to  the  ground,  some  of  whom  seemed  dead, 
others  in  the  agonies  of  death,  the  violence  of  their  bodily  convulsions 
exceeding  all  description.  There  was  also  great  crying  and  agonizing 
in  prayer,  mixed  with  deep  and  deadly  groans  on  every  side. 

When  sermon  was  ended,  one  brought  good  tidings  to  Mr.  B[erridge] 
from  Grantchester,  that  God  had  there  broken  down  seventeen 
persons  last  week  by  the  singing  of  hymns  only  ;  and  that  a  child, 
seven  years  old,  sees  many  visions  and  astonishes  the  neighbours  with 
her  innocent,  awful  manner  of  declaring  them. 

While  Mr.  B[erridge]  preached  in  the  church,  I  stood  with  many  in 
the  churchyard,  to  make  room  for  those  who  came  from  far  ;  therefore 
I  saiv  little,  but  heard  the  agonizing  of  many,  panting  and  gasping  after 
eternal  life.  In  the  afternoon  Mr.  B[erridge]  was  constrained,  by  the 
multitude  of  people,  to  come  out  of  the  church  and  preach  in  his 
own  close.  Some  of  those  who  were  here  pricked  to  the  heart  were 
affected  in  an  astonishing  manner.  The  first  man  I  saw  wounded 
would  have  dropped,  but  others,  catching  him  in  their  arms,  did, 
indeed,  prop  him  up,  but  were  so  far  from  keeping  him  still  that  he 
caused  all  of  them  to  totter  and  tremble.  His  own  shaking  exceeded 
that  of  a  cloth  in  the  wind.  It  seemed  as  if  the  Lord  came  upon  him 
like  a  giant,  taking  him  by  the  neck  and  shaking  all  his  bones  in 
pieces.  One  woman  tore  up  the  ground  with  her  hands,  filling  them 
with  dust  and  with  the  hard-trodden  grass,  on  which  I  saw  her  lie,  with 
her  hands  clinched,  as  one  dead,  when  the  multitude  dispersed.  Another 
roared  and  screamed  in  a  more  dreadful  agony  than  ever  I  heard  before. 
I  omitted  the  rejoicing  of  believers,  because  of  their  number,  and  the 
frequency  thereof,  though  the  manner  was  strange  ;  some  of  them  being 
quite  overpowered  with  divine  love,  and  only  showing  enough  of 
natural  life  to  let  us  know  they  were  overwhelmed  with  joy  and  life 
eternal.  Some  continued  long  as  if  they  were  dead,  but  with  a  calm 
sweetness  in  their  looks.  I  saw  one  who  lay  two  or  three  hours  in  the 
open  air,  and,  being  then  carried  into  the  house,  continued  insensible 
another  hour,  as  if  actually  dead.  The  first  sign  of  life  she  showed 
was  a  rapture  of  praise  intermixed  with  a  small,  joyous  laughter. 

Mon.  16. — Mr.  B[erridge]  this  evening  preached  in  his  house, 
where  I  observed  Molly  Raymond  leaning  all  the  while  as  if  asleep ; 
but  an  hour  or  two  after  she  desired  to  speak  with  him.  I  wondered 
she  was  not  gone  home,  and  was  concerned  that  so  little  a  girl  should 
have  so  far  to  go  in  the  dark  without  company.      Mr.  B[erridge]  told 


jniy  1759.]  The    Work  near  Everton  337 


me  neither  she  nor  the  other  justified  children  were  afraid  of 
anything. 

rues.  17.— We  walked  toward  Harlston,  near  which  Mr.  B[erridge] 
overtook  us.  He  was  greatly  fatigued  and  dejected,  and  said,  '  I  am 
now  so  weak,  I  must  leave  off  field-preaching.'  Nevertheless,  he  cast 
himself  on  the  Lord,  and  stood  up  to  preach,  having  near  three 
thousand  hearers.  He  was  very  weak  at  first,  and  scarce  able  to 
speak ;  but  God  soon  performed  His  promise,  imparting  new  strength 
to  him,  and  causing  him  to  speak  with  mighty  power.  A  great  shaking 
was  among  the  dry  bones.  Incessant  were  the  cries,  groans,  wringing 
of  hands,  and  prayers  of  sinners,  now  first  convinced  of  their  deplorable 
state.  After  preaching  he  was  lively  and  strong,  so  that  the  closeness 
of  a  crowded  room  neither  affected  his  breath  nor  hindered  his  rejoicing 
over  two  children,  one  about  eight,  and  the  other  about  six  years  old, 
who  were  crying  aloud  to  God  for  mercy. 

Not  only  Harlston,  but  Stapleford  and  Triplow,  to  which  Mr. 
B[erridge]  was  now  going,  were  places  in  which  he  had  never  preached 
the  gospel,  and  probably  never  would  have  done  had  it  not  been 
for  the  thundering  sermons  made  against  him  from  their  several 
pulpits.  So  does  Satan  frequently  overshoot  himself,  and  occasion 
the  downfall  of  his  own  kingdom. 

I  had  been  very  ill  the  preceding  week.  Wherefore,  last  night 
I  had  recourse  to  God  in  prayer,  and  this  morning,  instead  of  rising 
with  difficulty  at  eight  or  nine,  as  I  had  usually  done,  I  rose  with 
ease  at  five ;  and,  instead  of  losing  my  strength  in  a  mile  or  two,  I 
walked  eighteen  without  any  weakness  or  weariness. 

Wed.  18. — We  called  at  the  house  where  Mr.  B[erridge]  had  been 
preaching  in  the  morning,  and  found  several  there  rejoicing  in  God 
and  several  mourning  after  Him.  While  I  prayed  with  them  many 
crowded  into  the  house,  some  of  whom  burst  into  a  strange,  involuntary 
laughter,  so  that  my  voice  could  scarce  be  heard,  and  when  I  strove 
to  speak  louder  a  sudden  hoarseness  seized  me.  Then  the  laughter 
increased.  I  perceived  it  was  Satan,  and  resolved  to  pray  on.  Imme- 
diately the  Lord  rebuked  him  that  laughter  was  at  an  end,  and  so 
was  my  hoarseness.  A  vehement  wrestling  with  God  ran  through 
the  whole  company,  whether  sorrowful  or  rejoicing,  till,  beside  the 
three  young  women  of  the  house,  one  young  man  and  a  girl  about 
eleven  years  old,  who  had  been  counted  one  of  the  wickedest  in 
Harlston,  were  exceedingly  blessed  with  the  consolations  of  God. 

Among  those  under  conviction  was  an  elderly  woman,  who  had 
been  a  scoffer  at  the  gospel,  and  a  keen  ridiculer  of  all  that  cried 
out ;  but  she  now  cried  louder  than  any  present.  Another  I  observed 
who  had  known  the  Lord  about  five-and-twenty  years.  When  Mr. 
B[erridge]   first   brought  the  gospel  to   her  ears  she  was  filled  with 


338  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Juiyi759. 

gladness,  knowing  this  was  the  same  salvation  which  God  had  long 
ago  brought  to  her  heart. 

We  walked  hence  to  the  middle  of  Shelford  Moor,  and,  seeing  no 
person  but  a  young  woman  who  kept  sheep,  the  solitude  invited  us 
to  stop  and  sing  a  hymn,  the  sound  thereof  reached  her.  She  came 
up  slowly,  weeping  as  she  came,  and  then  stood  by  a  brook  of  water 
over  against  us  with  the  tears  running  down  her  cheeks  apace.  We 
sang  another  hymn  for  this  mourner  in  Sion,  and  wrestled  for  her 
with  God  in  prayer.  But  He  did  not  yet  comfort  her.  And  indeed 
I  have  observed  of  the  people  in  general  who  hear  Mr.  B[erridge], 
their  convictions  are  not  only  deep  and  violent,  but  last  a  long  time. 
Wherefore  those  that  are  offended  at  them  who  rejoice  should  consider 
how  terrible  a  cup  they  received  first.  Now  they  are  all  light ;  but 
they  well  remember  the  darkness  and  misery,  the  wormwood  and 
the  gall. 

We  met  Mr.  B[erridge]  at  Stapleford,  five  miles  from  Cambridge. 
His  heart  was  particularly  set  on  this  people,  because  he  was  curate 
here  five  or  six  years  ;  but  never  preached  a  gospel  sermon  among  them 
till  this  evening.  About  one  thousand  five  hundred  persons  met  in 
a  close  to  hear  him,  great  part  of  whom  were  laughers  and  mockers. 
The  work  of  God,  however,  quickly  began  among  them  that  were 
serious,  while  not  a  few  endeavoured  to  make  sport  by  mimicking 
the  gestures  of  them  that  were  wounded.  Both  these  and  those  who 
rejoiced  in  God  gave  great  offence  to  ^some  stern-looking  men,  who 
vehemently  demanded  to  have  those  wretches  horse-whipped  out  of 
the  close.  Need  we  wonder  at  this,  when  several  of  His  own  people 
are  unwilling  to  let  God  work  in  His  own  way  ?  And  well  may  Satan 
be  enraged  at  the  cries  of  the  people,  and  the  prayers  they  make 
in  the  bitterness  of  their  souls,  seeing  we  know  these  are  the  chief 
times  at  which  Satan  is  cast  out. 

However,  in  a  while,  many  of  the  scoffers  were  weary,  and  went 
away ;  the  rest  continued  as  insensible  as  before.  I  had  long  been 
walking  round  the  multitude,  feeling  a  jealousy  for  my  God,  and 
praying  Him  to  make  the  place  of  His  feet  glorious.  My  patience 
at  last  began  to  fail,  and  I  prayed,  '  O  King  of  glory,  break  some 
of  them  in  pieces  ;  but  let  it  be  to  the  saving  of  their  souls  ! '  I  had 
but  just  spoke  when  I  heard  a  dreadful  noise  on  the  farther  side 
of  the  congregation,  and,  turning  thither,  saw  one  Thomas  Skinner 
coming  forward,  the  most  horrible  human  figure  I  ever  saw.  His 
large  wig  and  hair  were  coal  black ;  his  face  distorted  beyond  all 
description.  He  roared  incessantly,  throwing  and  clapping  his  hands 
together  with  his  whole  force.  Several  were  terrified,  and  hasted  out 
of  his  way.  I  was  glad  to  hear  him,  after  a  while,  pray  aloud.  Not 
a  few  of  the  triflers  grew  serious,  while  his  kindred  and  acquaintance 


July  1769.)  The    Work  near  Everton  339 

were  very  unwilling  to  believe  even  their  own  eyes  and  ears.  They 
would  fain  have  got  him  away,  but  he  fell  to  the  earth,  crying,  '  My 
burden  !  My  burden  !  I  cannot  bear  it ! '  Some  of  his  brother  scoffers 
were  calling  for  horse-whips,  till  they  saw  him  extended  on  his  back 
at  full  length.  They  then  said  lie  was  dead.  And,  indeed,  the  only 
sign  of  life  was  the  working  of  his  breast  and  the  distortions  of  his 
face,  while  the  veins  of  his  neck  were  swelled  as  if  ready  to  burst. 
He  was  just  before  the  chief  captain  of  Satan's  forces.  None  was  by 
nature  more  fitted  for  mockery  ;  none  could  swear  more  heroically 
to  whip  out  of  the  close  all  who  were  affected  by  the  preaching.  His 
agonies  lasted  some  hours ;  then  his  body  and  soul  were  eased. 

When  Mr.  B[erridge]  had  refreshed  himself  a  little  he  returned 
to  the  close  and  bid  the  multitude  take  warning  by  Skinner,  who 
still  lay  roaring  and  tormented  on  the  ground.  All  the  people  were 
now  deeply  serious,  and  several  hundreds,  instead  of  going  when 
Mr.  B[erridge]  dismissed  them,  stayed  in  Mr.  Jennings's  yard.  Many 
of  these,  especially  men,  were  truly  broken  in  heart.  Mr.  B[erridge] 
talked  with  as  many  as  could  come  into  the  house,  and,  seeing  what 
numbers  stood  hungering  without,  sent  me  word  to  pray  with  them. 
This  was  a  grievous  cross !  I  knew  it  was  the  Lord's  will,  but  felt 
such  weakness  of  body  and  sinking  of  spirit,  and  was  withal  so 
hoarse,  that  I  supposed  few  could  hear  out  of  some  hundreds  who 
stood  before  me.  However,  I  attempted,  and  in  a  moment  the  Lord 
poured  upon  me  such  a  spirit  of  supplication,  and  gave  me  so  clear 
and  strong  an  utterance,  that  it  seemed  I  was  another  man — a  further 
instance  that  the  servants  of  God  are  not  sent  a  warfare  on  their 
own  charge. 

No  sooner  had  I  finished  than  we  were  called  to  see  John  Dennis, 
aged  twenty  years,  who  lay  on  a  table.  His  body  was  stiff  and  motionless 
as  a  statue ;  his  very  neck  seemed  as  if  made  of  iron.  He  was  looking 
steadfastly  up  to  heaven,  and  praying  aloud  with  a  melodious  voice. 
His  words  surprised  Mr.  B[erridge]  as  well  as  me,  who  said  to  the 
assembly,  '  You  need  no  better  preacher ;  none  can  tell  you  the 
truths  of  the  gospel  more  clearly.'  And,  indeed,  his  prayer  unfolded 
the  whole  Christian  system  with  the  greatest  accuracy.  When  he 
came  out  of  the  fit  he  was  in  perfect  health,  but  declared  he  knew 
not  a  word  of  all  he  had  spoken.  His  mother  then  informed 
us  he  had  had  these  fits  for  two  years,  at  least  once  a  day,  but  he 
never  spoke  in  any  fit  till  three  weeks  ago ;  ever  since  he  prays  in 
them  as  to-night,  but  he  is  himself  as  ignorant  of  the  matter  as  if 
he  had  been  dead  all  the  time. 

It  was  late  when  I  went  to  lodge  about  half  a  mile  off,  where 
I  found  a  young  woman  reading  hymns,  and  the  power  of  the  Lord 
falling   on   the  hearers,  especially  one  young  man,   who  cried  aloud 

VOL.  IV  21 


34-0  John   Wesley  s  Journal  tJuiynoa. 

in  such  bitter  anguish  that  I  soon  desired  we  might  join  in  prayer. 
This  was  the  seventh  time  of  my  praying  in  public  that  day,  and 
had  I  been  faithful  I  should  probably  have  prayed  seven  more. 

Thur.  19. — I  returned  to  Mr.  J[ennin]gs's,  who  had  set  out  at 
four  in  the  morning  to  hear  Mr.  B[erridge]  at  Grantchester.  He 
came  soon  after  me,  but  was  scarce  able  to  speak.  I  never  saw  a 
man  sweat  in  such  a  manner — the  large  drops  seeming  fixed  all  over 
his  face,  just  like  beads  of  glass.  The  congregation  at  Grantchester 
this  morning  consisted  of  about  one  thousand  persons,  among  whom 
the  Lord  was  wonderfully  present,  convincing  a  far  greater  number 
now  than  even  last  night.  Mr.  J[ennin]gs  was  a  mild,  good-natured 
Pharisee,  who  never  had  been  awakened ;  but  he  was  now  thoroughly 
convinced  of  his  lost  estate,  and  stood  for  a  time  in  utter  despair, 
with  his  mouth  wide  open,  his  eyes  staring,  and  full  of  huge  dismay. 
When  he  found  power  to  speak  he  cried  out,  '  I  thought  I  had  led 
a  good  life  ;  I  thought  I  was  not  so  bad  as  others  ;  but  I  am  the  vilest 
creature  upon  earth  ;  I  am  dropping  into  hell  !  Now,  now  ;  this  very 
moment ! '  He  then  saw  hell  open  to  receive  him,  and  Satan  ready 
to  cast  him  in ;  but  it  was  not  long  before  he  saw  the  Lord  Jesus, 
and  knew  He  had  accepted  him.  He  then  cried  aloud  in  an  unspeak- 
able rapture,  '  I  have  got  Christ  !  I  have  got  Christ !  '  For  two  hours 
he  was  in  the  visions  of  God ;  then  the  joy,  though  not  the  peace, 
abated. 

I  had  left  Mr.  J[ennin]gs  but  a  little  while  when  I  heard  John 
Dennis  loudly  praising  God.  I  no  sooner  kneeled  by  him  than  the 
consolations  of  God  came  upon  me,  so  that  I  trembled  and  wept 
much.  Nor  was  the  Spirit  poured  out  upon  us  alone ;  all  in  the 
house  were  partakers  of  it.  J[ohn]  D[ennis]  was  kneeling  when  his 
fit  came.  We  laid  him  on  the  ground,  where  he  soon  became  stiff 
as  last  night,  and  prayed  in  like  manner.  Afterwards  his  body  grew 
flexible  by  degrees,  but  was  convulsed  from  head  to  foot.  When  he 
was  quite  recovered  he  said  he  was  quite  resigned  to  the  will  of  God, 
who  gave  him  such  strength  in  the  inner  man  that  he  did  not  find 
any  of  these  things  grievous,  neither  could  ask  to  be  delivered  from 
them. 

I  walked  from  Stapleford  with  twenty  persons  to  hear  Mr.  B[erridge] 
at  Triplow,  and  saw  many  other  companies,  some  before,  some  behind, 
some  on  either  hand,  going  the  same  way.  This  brought  to  my  mind 
the  words  of  Zechariah,  '  And  the  inhabitants  of  one  city  shall  go  to 
another,  saying,  Let  us  go  speedily  to  pray  before  the  Lord,  and  to 
seek  the  Lord  of  hosts ;  I  will  go  also.' 

Fifteen  hundred  or  two  thousand  were  assembled  in  the  close 
at  Triplow.  The  only  unpolished  part  of  the  audience  were  a  few 
gentlemen  on  horseback.     They  were  much  offended  at  the  cries  of 


July  1759.] 


In  and  near  Everton  341 


those  in  conviction,  but  much  more  at  the  rejoicing  of  others,  even 
to  laughter ;  but  they  were  not  able  to  look  them  in  the  face  for  half  a 
minute  together.  I  looked  after  service  at  every  ring  which  the  people 
made  about  those  that  fell  under  the  word.  Here  and  there  was  a 
place  with  only  one,  but  there  were  generally  two  or  three  together, 
and  on  one  spot  no  less  than  seven  who  lay  on  the  ground  as  if  slain 
in  battle.  I  soon  followed  Mr.  B[erridge]  to  the  house,  and  found 
both  it  and  the  orchard  filled  with  serious  people,  to  whom  he  spake 
till  his  strength  failed,  and  then,  seeing  them  unwilling  to  depart, 
desired  me  to  dismiss  them  with  a  prayer.  I  felt  great  reluctance ; 
but  so  mightily,  when  I  began,  came  the  Spirit  upon  me  that  I  found 
no  want  of  utterance  while  i  was  praying  with  about  two  hundred 
persons.  I  thought  they  had  then  gone  away,  but  perceived,  an  hour 
after,  most  of  them  were  still  in  the  house  or  orchard — sighs  and 
groans,  prayers,  tears,  and  joyful  praise  being  intermixed  on  every 
side. 

Fri.  20. — I  was  wakeful  before  five ;  but,  conferring  with  flesh 
and  blood,  I  slept  again.  Mr.  B[erridge]  sent  for  me  at  seven ; 
but  I  was  then  so  weak  I  could  not  go  till  the  people  were  dispersed. 
Three  times  more  persons  were  struck  with  convictions  this  morning 
than  had  been  last  night.  Mr.  B[erridge]  had  prayed  with  them  till 
near  fainting,  who  then  sent  for  me  to  come;  and  who  knows  what 
God  might  have  done,  even  by  me,  if  I  had  not  been  indulging  my  vile 
body  ?  I  was  glad  to  see  a  woman,  supposed  the  chief  sinner  in  the 
town,  now  rolling  on  the  earth,  screaming  and  roaring  in  strong  con- 
victions. The  man  of  the  house  informed  us  of  her  having  had  nine  or 
ten  children  by  whoredom;  and  that,  being  at  last  married,  her  husband 
was  more  angry  with  her  for  hearing  the  word  than  he  would  probably 
have  been  for  committing  adultery.  Nor  was  her  minister  displeased 
that  she  never  came  to  church,  but  mightily  strove  to  prevent  both  her 
and  all  the  sinners  of  his  parish  from  going  to  hear  the  gospel.  I 
observed  also  a  beggar-girl,  seven  or  eight  years  old,  who  had  scarce 
any  clothes  but  a  ragged  piece  of  old  rug.  She  too  had  felt  the  word 
of  God  as  a  two-edged  sword,  and  mourned  to  be  covered  with  Christ's 
righteousness. 

From  Triplow  I  walked  to  Orwell,  and  thence  to  Everton,  in  weak- 
ness of  body  and  heaviness  of  spirit.  Mr.  B[erridge]  was  preaching  when 
I  came  in.  Here  God  again  refreshed  my  soul.  I  shook  from  head 
to  foot,  while  tears  of  joy  ran  down  my  face,  and  my  distress  was  at 
an  end. 

Sat.  21. — I  was  troubled  for  some  of  our  brethren,  who  began  to 
doubt  whether  this  was  a  work  of  God  or  of  the  devil ;  John  Keeling  in 
particular,  who,  instead  of  his  frank,  lively  zeal,  and  happiness  in  God, 
was  now  filled  with   gloomy  discontent,  and  grown   dark,  sullen,  and 


34 2  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Juiyi769. 

reserved.  As  we  were  walking  together,  he  told  me  it  was  his  resolution 
to  keep  himself  to  himself;  to  let  them  who  struggled  so  struggle  as 
they  would,  and  leave  all  those  to  themselves  whom  Satan  cast  into 
visions  or  trances  till  Satan  brought  them  out  again.  '  But,'  he  added, 
'  I  am  so  uneasy,  I  don't  know  what  to  do  ;  and  most  of  our  people 
begin  to  shun  one  another.'  The  snare  was  now  broken.  He  saw  the 
delusion  he  had  been  in,  and  I  trust  will  hereafter  shun  the  troublers 
of  Israel. 

Sun.  22. — The  church  was  quite  filled,  and  hundreds  were  without. 
And  now  the  arrows  of  God  flew  abroad.  The  inexpressible  groans, 
the  lamenting,  praying,  roaring,  were  so  loud,  almost  without  inter- 
mission, that  we  who  stood  without  could  scarce  help  thinking  all  in 
the  church  were  cut  to  the  heart.  But,  upon  inquiry,  we  found  about 
two  hundred  persons,  chiefly  men,  cried  aloud  for  mercy;  but  many 
more  were  affected,  perhaps  as  deeply,  though  in  a  calmer  way. 

I  rejoiced  to  see  many  from  Cambridgeshire,  particularly  John 
Dennis,  Thomas  Skinner,  and  the  sorrowful  young  woman  with  whom 
we  had  prayed  on  Shelford  Moor.  Now,  too,  came  good  news  from 
several  parts,  especially  Grantchester,  where  ten  more  persons  were 
cut  to  the  heart  in  singing  hymns  among  themselves,  and  the  little 
child  before-mentioned  continues  to  astonish  all  the  neighbourhood. 
A  noted  physician  came  some  time  ago  and  closely  examined  her. 
The  result  was,  he  confessed  it  was  no  distemper  of  mind,  but  the  hand 
of  God. 

I  sought  for  Thomas  Skinner  after  morning  service,  and  found  him, 
with  many  more,  singing  hymns  under  a  tree.  When  they  stopped,  I 
asked,  '  How  do  you  find  your  mind  now?'  Instead  of  speaking  he 
looked  upon  me  with  great  steadiness,  fetched  a  deep  sigh,  burst  out 
into  tears  and  prayers,  and,  throwing  himself  along  on  the  ground,  fell 
into  more  and  more  agony,  till  he  roared  aloud.  I  told  him  how  great 
a  sinner  I  had  been  ;  but  the  more  I  spoke,  the  more  was  he  distressed. 
Wherefore  John  Dennis  and  I  went  to  prayer  for  him  ;  but  his  deliver- 
ance was  not  yet.  Make  him,  O  Lord,  a  greater  champion  for  Thy 
truth  than  ever  he  was  against  it ! 

Mr.  B[erridge]  preached  in  his  close  this  afternoon,  though  in  great 
bodily  weakness;  but  when  he  is  weakest,  God  so  strengthens  him 
that  it  is  surprising  to  what  a  distance  his  voice  reaches.  I  have  heard 
Mr.  Whitefield  speak  as  loud,  but  not  with  such  a  continued,  strong, 
unbroken  tenor. 

Mon.  23. — Mr.  Keeling  and  I  walked  to  Bedford.  I  was  relating 
there  how  God  had  plucked  such  a  brand  as  me  out  of  the  burning, 
but  my  voice  was  quickly  stopped  by  rejoicing  ;  and  I  have  often  found 
that  nothing  I  can  say  makes  so  much  impression  on  myself  or  others 
as  thus  repeating  my  own  conversion. 


Aug.  1759. ] 


At  Gainsborough  343 


The  first  time  I  saw  Mr.  B[erridge]  was  June  2,  1758.  But  I  scarce 
thought  of  him  again  till  June  7,  as  I  was  walking  up  to  Luton  Down. 
There  an  awful  sense  of  God's  presence  fell  upon  me,  and  my  voice 
grew  louder  and  louder,  in  proportion  to  the  joy  of  my  soul,  with  a 
strong  impulse  to  pray  for  the  success  of  Mr.  B[erridge]'s  labours.  And 
such  a  foresight  did  the  Lord  give  me  of  what  He  was  bringing  to  pass 
through  his  ministry  that  I  was  quite  overwhelmed  for  near  an  hour  ; 
till  my  voice  was  lost,  and  only  tears  remained.  And  oh,  how  graciously 
has  the  God  of  truth  accomplished  all  those  things  !  With  what  delight 
hast  Thou  since  caused  me  to  walk  round  the  walls  of  Thy  Sion,  to  mark 
well  her  bulwarks,  and  count  the  towers  thereof! 

AUG.  i,  Wed. — A  few  of  us  spoke  freely  and  largely  to  a 
brother  who  had  been  '  overtaken  in  a  fault,'  and  endeavoured 
to  'restore  him  in  the  spirit  of  meekness' ;  and  we  were  much 
comforted  over  him,  having  great  hope  that  God  would  restore 
his  usefulness  as  well  as  his  strength. 

Thur.  2. — I  rode  to  Sheffield,  and  preached  at  one  to  a  large 
and  quiet  congregation.  I  was  afterward  desired  to  visit  Mr. 
Dodge,  curate  of  the  new  church.  I  found  him  on  the  brink  of 
eternity,  rejoicing  in  God  his  Saviour.1  Thence  I  went  on  to 
Rotherham,  and  talked  with  five  men  and  six  women  (as  I  had 
done  with  many  others  before  in  various  places)  who  believe 
they  are  saved  from  sin.  And  this  fact  I  believe,  that  they 
'  rejoice  evermore,  pray  without  ceasing,  and  in  everything  give 
thanks.'  I  believe  they  feel  nothing  but  love  now  :  what  they 
will  do,  I  leave  to  God. 

Fri.  3. — I  preached  at  Gainsborough,  in  Sir  Nevil  Hickman's 
great  hall.2  It  is  full  as  large  as  the  Weavers'  Hall,  in  Bristol. 
At  two  it  was  filled  with  a  rude,  wild  multitude  (a  few  of  a  better 
spirit  excepted).  Yet  all  but  two  or  three  gentlemen  were 
attentive  while  I  enforced  our  Lord's  words,  '  What  shall  it 
profit  a  man,  if  he  shall  gain  the  whole  world,  and  lose  his  own 
soul  ? '  I  was  walking  back  through  a  gaping,  staring  crowd, 
when  Sir  Nevil  came  and  thanked  me  for  my  sermon,  to  the  no 
small  amazement  of  his  neighbours,  who  shrunk  back  as  if  they 


1  The  dying  curate  was  the  same  man  was    in     all    probability     Mrs.     Green, 

whom   the  first  Methodists  were   accus-  (Aleth.  in  Sheffield,  p.  1 36. ) 

tomed  to  go  from  Sheffield  to  Ecclesall  :  See    W.H.S.    vol.    vi.    p.    68  ;    also 

to   hear  ;  and  one  of  the  '  six  women '  below,  p.  474. 


344  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Aug.  1709. 

had  seen  a  ghost.  Thence  I  rode  to  North  Scarle,1  the  last 
village  in  Lincolnshire,  ten  miles  short  of  Newark.  Here  a  great 
multitude  assembled  from  various  parts,  most  of  them  wholly 
unacquainted  with  the  ways  of  God  ;  indeed  to  such  a  degree 
that,  though  I  spoke  as  plain  as  I  could  on  the  first  principles  of 
religion,  yet  it  seemed  very  many  understood  me  no  more  than 
if  I  was  talking  Greek.  Oh  what  a  condition  is  the  bulk  of 
Reformed  Christians  in  to  this  day  ! 

Sat.  4.  — As  we  took  horse  the  rain  began,  and  accompanied 
us  till  we  alighted  in  the  evening. 

Sun.  5. — Between  eight  and  nine  I  reached  Everton,  faint 
and  weary  enough.  During  the  prayers,  as  also  during  the 
sermon  and  the  administration  of  the  sacrament,  a  few  persons 
cried  aloud  ;  but  it  was  not  from  sorrow  or  fear,  but  love  and 
joy.  The  same  I  observed  in  several  parts  of  the  afternoon 
service.  In  the  evening  I  preached  in  Mr.  Hicks's  church.2 
Two  or  three  persons  fell  to  the  ground,  and  were  extremely 
convulsed  ;  but  none  cried  out.  One  or  two  were  filled  with 
strong  consolation. 

Mon.  6. — [I  soon  found  Satan  was  labouring  to  create  mis- 
understandings between  Mr.  Berridge  and  Mr.  Hicks.  But  on 
Monday  they  talked  freely  together,  and  the  snare  was  broken. 
In  the  afternoon3]  I  talked  largely  with  Ann  Thorn  and  two 
others,  who  had  been  several  times  in  trances.  What  they  all 
agreed  in  was :  (1)  that  when  they  went  away,  as  they  termed  it, 
it  was  always  at  the  time  they  were  fullest  of  the  love  of  God  ; 
(2)  that  it  came  upon  them  in  a  moment,  without  any  previous 
notice,  and  took  away  all  their  senses  and  strength  ;  (3)  that 
there  were  some  exceptions,  but  in  general,  from  that  moment 
they  were  in  another  world,  knowing  nothing  of  what  was  done 
or  said  by  all  that  were  round  about  them. 

About  five  in  the  afternoon  I  heard  them  singing  hymns. 
Soon   after,  Mr.  B[erridg]e  came  up  and  told  me  Alice  Miller 


1  Methodism  had  been  introduced  into  fragmentary  MS.    in  the  handwriting  or 

North  Scarle  by  a  person  named  Arden,  John    Wesley    found    in    a    volume    of 

who    had    heard    Wesley    in    Moorfields  Benson's    edition    of     the     Works,    and 

( Watmough's  History  of  Methodism   in  supplied    to    this    edition  by    the     Rev. 

Lincolnshire,  p.  13).  W.    L.  Cornish  (see   W.M.  Mag.  1911, 

-  At  Wrestlingworth.  p.    787).     The  MS.  illustrates  Wesley's 

3  The  new  text  at  this  point  is  from  a  editing  of  the  Journal. 


1.  THE    OLD    HALL    OF    SIR    NEVIL    HICKMAN,    GAINSBOROUGH. 

2.  THE    REV.    JOHN    IiERRIDGE.  Pitoto  :    Mr.    !■'.   T.  Shipham. 

3.  EVERTON"    CHURCH. 


345 


Am.  i769.i  A   Fragmentary  MS.  347 

(fifteen  years  old)  was  fallen  into  a  trance.  I  went  down  imme- 
diately, and  found  her  sitting  on  a  stool  and  leaning  against  the 
wall,  with  her  eyes  open  and  fixed  upward.  I  made  a  motion 
as  if  going  to  strike,  but  they  continued  immovable.  Her  face 
showed  an  unspeakable  mixture  of  reverence  and  love,  while 
silent  tears  stole  down  her  cheeks.  Her  lips  were  a  little  open, 
and  sometimes  moved,  but  not  enough  to  cause  any  sound.  I 
do  not  know  whether  I  ever  saw  a  human  face  look  so  beautiful. 
Sometimes  it  was  covered  with  a  smile,  as  from  joy,  mixing  with 
love  and  reverence  ;  but  the  tears  fell  still,  though  not  so  fast. 
Her  pulse  was  quite  regular.  In  about  half  an  hour  I  observed 
her  countenance  change  into  the  form  of  fear,  pity,  and  distress  ; 
then  she  burst  into  a  flood  of  tears,  and  cried  out,  '  Dear  Lord  ; 
they  will  be  damned  !  They  will  all  be  damned  !  '  But  in 
about  five  minutes  her  smiles  returned,  and  only  love  and  joy 
appeared  in  her  face.  About  half  an  hour  after  six  I  observed 
distress  take  place  again  ;  and  soon  after  she  wept  bitterly,  and 
cried  out,  '  Dear  Lord,  they  will  go  to  hell  !  The  world  will  go 
to  hell  ! '  Soon  after,  she  said,  '  Cry  aloud  !  Spare  not !  '  And 
in  a  few  moments  her  look  was  composed  again,  and  spoke  a 
mixture  of  reverence,  joy,  and  love.  Then  she  said  aloud,  '  Give 
God  the  glory.'  About  seven  her  senses  returned.  I  asked, 
'  Where  have  you  been  ?  '  'I  have  been  with  my  Saviour.'  '  In 
heaven,  or  on  earth?'  'I  cannot  tell;  but  I  was  in  glory.' 
1  Why,  then,  did  you  cry  ?  '  '  Not  for  myself,  but  for  the  world  ; 
for  I  saw  they  were  on  the  brink  of  hell.'  '  Whom  did  you 
desire  to  give  the  glory  to  God  ? '  '  Ministers,  that  cry  aloud  to 
the  world  ;  else  they  will  be  proud  ;  and  then  God  will  leave 
them,  and  they  will  lose  their  own  souls.' 

I  preached  at  eight  on  '  The  wicked  shall  be  turned  into 
hell,  and  all  the  people  that  forget  God.'  The  whole  congrega- 
tion was  earnestly  attentive  ;  but  not  above  one  or  two  cried 
out,  and  I  did  not  observe  any  that  fainted  away,  either  then 
or  in  the  morning.  I  have  generally  observed  more  or  less  of 
these  outward  symptoms  to  attend  the  beginning  of  a  general 
work  of  God.  So  it  was  in  New  England,  Scotland,  Holland, 
Ireland,  and  many  parts  of  England  ;  but,  after  a  time,  they 
gradually  decrease,  and  the  work  goes  on  more  quietly  and 
silently.     Those  whom  it  pleases  God  to  employ  in   His  work 


34^  John   Wesley  s  Journal  rxug.  1759. 


ought  to  be  quite  passive  in  this  respect ;  they  should  choose 
nothing,  but  leave  entirely  to  Him  all  the  circumstances  of  His 
own  work.1 

Tues.  7.—  [I  then  began  at  four  (because  of  the  harvest),  and, 
after  preaching,  took  horse.  At  Stevenage  we  put  up  at  the 
same  inn  with  Mr.  Venn,  going  down  with  his  family  to 
Yorkshire.  In  the  afternoon,  riding  easily,  I  reached  London, 
thoroughly  tired]  having  rode  in  seven  months  above  four-and- 
twenty  hundred  miles. 

Wed.  8. — Our  Conference  began,2  the  time  of  which  was 
almost  entirely  employed  in  examining  whether  the  spirit  and 
lives  of  our  preachers  were  suitable  to  their  profession.3  On 
Saturday,  in  the  afternoon,  we  concluded.  Great  was  the 
unanimity  and  love  that  reigned  among  us  [throughout] ;  and  if 
there  were  any  who  hoped  or  feared  the  contrary,  they  were 
happily  disappointed.  [Is  not  this  another  token  for  good? 
Surely  while  we  are  thus  striving  for  the  hope  of  the  gospel  we 
shall  not  be  delivered  to  the  will  of  our  enemies.] 

Sun.  12.— I  was  afraid  to  look  forward  to  the  work  of  the 
day,  knowing  my  strength  was  not  sufficient  for  it  ;  but  God 
looked  to  that  ;  for  though  I  was  exceeding  weak  at  Snowsfields 
in  the  morning,  I  was  stronger  at  noon  ;  and  after  preaching  in 
the  afternoon  [to  a  large  multitude  in  Moorfields],  and  meeting 
the  society  [for  near  an  hour],  I  felt  no  weakness  [or  weariness] 
at  all. 

[I  had  designed  to  set  out  on  Tuesday  morning  either  for 
Norwich  'or  Cornwall  ;  but  I  still  felt  I  had  need  of  a  little 
rest,  and  so  determined  to  defer  my  journey.  However]  on 
Monday  the  13th  I  took  a  little  ride  to  Croydon,  one  of  the  seats 
of  the  Archbishops  of  Canterbury.  Was  it  one  of  these  who 
ordered,  many  years  ago  (for  the  characters  are  of  old  standing), 
that  dreadful  inscription  to  be  placed  just  over  the  communion- 
table ?  '  And  now,  ye  priests,  this  commandment  is  for  you. 
If  ye  will  not  hear,  and  if  ye  will  not  lay  it  to  heart,  to  give  glory 

The  above  passage  is  quoted,  in  part,  *  The    sixteenth    Annual    Conference. 

m  Life  of  C.  of Huntingdon,  vol.  i.  p.  398,  (Tyerman's    Life    of    Wesley,    vol.    ii. 

where  these  manifestations  are  discussed  p.  333.     See  also  Myles's  Chron.   Hist. 

in   notes,   and    an    interesting    letter   to  p.  84.) 

the  Countess  from  John  Wesley  is  pub-  3  On  Thursday  the  9th  and  on  Friday 

1'shec*'  the  10th  he  preached  at  the  Foundery. 


au*.  i769.i  At  Everton  349 

unto  My  name,  saith  the  Lord,  I  will  even  send  a  curse  among 
you,  and  I  will  curse  your  blessings  ;  yea,  I  have  cursed  them 
already,  because  ye  do  not  lay  it  to  heart.  Behold,  I  will  corrupt 
your  seed,  and  spread  dung  upon  your  faces,  even  the  dung  of 
your  solemn  feasts,  and  one  shall  take  you  away  with  it.' 

The  Archbishop's  palace '  is  an  ancient,  venerable  pile,  and 
the  gardens  are  extremely  pleasant.  The  late  Archbishop  had 
improved  them  at  a  large  expense  ;  but  continual  illness  pre- 
vented his  enjoying  them,  till,  after  four  years'  constant  pain, 
he  was  called  away — one  may  hope,  to  the  garden  of  God. 

I  dined  at  Mr.  B[elchier]'s  in  Epsom,  whose  house  and 
gardens  lie  in  what  was  once  a  chalk-pit.2  It  is  the  most  elegant 
spot  I  ever  saw  with  my  eyes,  everything,  within  doors  and 
without,  being  finished  in  the  most  exquisite  taste.  Surely 
nothing  on  earth  can  be  more  delightful  ;  what  will  the  possessor 
feel  when  he  cries  out : 

Must  I  then  leave  thee,  Paradise  ?     Then  leave 
These  happy  shades,  and  mansions  fit  for  gods  ? 3 

Fri.  17. — I  spent  an  hour  pleasantly  and  profitably  at 


's.     How  gracious  is  God,  who  still  preserves  him  uncon- 

sumed  in  fire !  How  plain  that  with  God  all  things  are  possible  ! 
He  can  draw  the  sting  either  of  wealth  or  death. 

Sun.  19. —  I  preached  in  the  afternoon  to  a  huge  multitude 
in  the  fields  i  on  '  Now  God  commandeth  all  men  everywhere 
to  repent.' 5 

Mon.  27. — I  rode  to  Bedford,  and  about  six  preached  on 
St.  Peter's  Green.  None  of  the  numerous  congregation  stood 
with  their  heads  covered  except  the  Germans.  Blessed  be  God 
that  I  have  not  so  learned  Christ !  If  they  know  no  better 
I  cannot  help  it. 

Tues.  28. — I  rode  on  to   Mr.  Berridge's  at  Everton,  and  in 


1  It  dates  from  the  early  part  of  the  01   this   were  composed   by    Dr.    Arne. 
thirteenth  century,  and  is  one  of  the  first  '  The  Sermon  Register  says  at  Epsom, 

buildings  constructed  entirely  of  brick.  On    this   day   he   wrote   to   Miss    Furly 

"-  See   an   article   by   the    Rev.   John  ( Works,  vol.    xii.   p.   204),    and   on   the 

Telford  in   W.H.S.  vol.  iv.  p.  67.  22nd   he   wrote   the   last   of    six    letters 

'  Altered  from  Milton's  Paradise  Lost,  to    Richard   Tompson  ( Works,   vol.   xii. 

xi.  269.     See  W .H.S.  vol.  v.  p.  116.     Or  p.  474). 

he   may   have   quoted    from   Dr.  Arne's  s  On  Saturday,  Aug.  25,  he  preached 

Hymn  of  Eve.     Both  the  words  and  music  at  Snowsfields  and  West  Street. 


3  5°  John   Wesley  s  Journal  raept.  1709. 

the  evening  went  to  the  church  ;  but  unusually  heavy,  and 
hardly  expecting  to  do  any  good  there.  I  preached  on  those 
words  in  the  Second  Lesson,  '  We  know  that  we  are  of  God.' 
One  sunk  down,  and  another,  and  another.  Some  cried  aloud 
in  agony  of  prayer.  I  would  willingly  have  spent  some  time 
in  prayer  with  them  ;  but  my  voice  failed,  so  that  I  was  obliged 
to  conclude  the  service,  leaving  many  in  the  church  crying 
and  praying,  but  unable  either  to  walk  or  stand.  One  young 
man  and  one  young  woman  were  brought  with  difficulty  to 
Mr.  B[erridge]'s  house,  and  continued  there  in  violent  agonies, 
both  of  body  and  soul.  When  1  came  into  the  room  the  woman 
lay  quiet,  wrestling  with  God  in  silent  prayer.  But  even  the 
bodily  convulsions  of  the  young  man  were  amazing  :  the 
heavings  of  his  breast  were  beyond  description — I  suppose 
equal  to  the  throes  of  a  woman  in  travail.  We  called  upon 
God  to  relieve  his  soul  and  body,  and  both  were  perfectly 
healed.  He  rejoiced  in  God  with  joy  unspeakable,  and  felt 
no  pain,  or  weakness,  or  weariness.  Presently  after  the  woman 
also  was  delivered,  and  rose  rejoicing  in  God  her  Saviour. 

Wed.  29. — I  rode  to  Lakenheath,  and  spoke  exceeding  plain 
to  an  honest,  drowsy  people. 

Thur.  30. — I  preached  at  the  Tabernacle  in  Norwich  to  a 
large,  rude,  noisy  congregation.  I  took  knowledge  what  manner 
of  teachers  they  had  been  accustomed  to,  and  determined  to 
mend  them  or  end  them.  Accordingly  the  next  evening,  after 
sermon,  I  reminded  them  of  two  things :  the  one,  that  it  was 
not  decent  to  begin  talking  aloud  as  soon  as  service  was  ended, 
and  hurrying  to  and  fro  as  in  a  bear-garden  ;  the  other,  that 
it  was  a  bad  custom  to  gather  into  knots  just  after  sermon  and 
turn  a  place  of  worship  into  a  coffee-house.  I  therefore  desired 
that  none  would  talk  under  that  roof,  but  go  quietly  and  silently 
away.  And  on  Sunday,  SEPT.  2,  I  had  the  pleasure  to  observe 
that  all  went  as  quietly  away  as  if  they  had  been  accustomed 
to  it  for  many  years. 

Mon.  3. — I  met  the  society  at  five,  and  explained  the  nature 
and  use  of  meeting  in  a  class.  Upon  inquiry,  1  found  we  have 
now  about  five  hundred  members ;  but  a  hundred  and  fifty 
of  these  do  not  pretend  to  meet  at  all.  Of  those,  therefore, 
I  make  no  account.     They  hang  on  but  a  single  thread. 


8«pt.  1769.'  At  Hempnall  35] 

Tues.  4. — I  walked  to  Hempnall,1  nine  miles  from  Norwich, 
and  preached  at  one  o'clock.  The  ringleader  of  the  mob  came 
with  his  horn,  as  usual,  before  I  began,  but  one  quickly  catched 
and  threw  away  his  horn,  and  in  a  few  minutes  he  was  deserted 
by  all  his  companions,  who  were  seriously  and  deeply  attentive 
to  the  great  truth,  '  By  grace  ye  are  saved  through  faith.' 

Sun.  9. — I  met  the  society  at  seven,  and  told  them  in  plain 
terms  that  they  were  the  most  ignorant,  self-conceited,  self- 
willed,  fickle,  untractable,  disorderly,  disjointed  society  that 
I  knew  in  the  three  kingdoms.  And  God  applied  it  to  their 
hearts,  so  that  many  were  profited  ;  but  I  do  not  find  that  one 
was  offended. 

At  ten  we  had  another  happy  opportunity,  and  many 
stubborn  hearts  were  melted  down.  Just  at  two  the  great 
congregation  met,  and  the  power  of  God  was  again  present 
to  heal,  though  not  so  eminently  as  at  five,  while  I  was  de- 
scribing '  the  peace  that  passeth  all  understanding.'  After 
preaching  I  was  desired  to  spend  an  hour  with  some  whom 
I  supposed  to  be  of  our  own  society  ;  but  I  soon  found  my 
mistake  : 

Sensim  medios  delapsus  in  hostes.2 

One  in  particular  warmly  told  me  she  could  not  like  mine 
or  Mr.  [John]  Murlin's 3  doctrine :  it  always  threw  her  into 
heaviness  ;  but  in  dear  Mr.  Cudworth's  she  could  find  comfort. 
I  desired  we  might  pray.  God  quickly  answered  for  Himself ; 
her  heart  was  broke  in  pieces.     She  was  filled  with  love,  and 


1  Wesley  spelt  the  word  '  Kemnal,'  but  by   the   fact   that,    though    possessed   of 

the  local  pronunciation  is  '  Hemnal.'     A  private  means,  he  laboured,  despite  severe 

tree  in  the  centre  of  the  village  is  still  physical  pain,  till  1787.     He  was  a  man 

spoken    of    as    'Wesley's    tree.'       See  of  great  integrity,  sincerity,  and  simpli- 

W.H.S.  vol.  iv.  p.  244.  city,  and  was  in  general  so  deeply  affected 

-  '  I  had  imperceptibly  fallen  into  the  with  the  subjects  on  which  he  preached 

midst  of  enemies.'     Altered  from  Virgil,  that  he  obtained  the  name  of  '  The  Weep- 

Aen.   Bk.  ii.  1.  377.    See  W.H. S.  vol.  v.  ing  Prophet.'    He  died  at  High  Wycombe 

p.  48.     Wesley  has  ingeniously  changed  in    1799,    but   at    his   own   request    his 

'  sensit '  into   '  sensim,'*  which,   from   its  remains   were    carried    to   London   and 

original    meaning    'perceptibly,'   passes  interred    in   Wesley's    vault.     A    mural 

into  '  gradually,'  and  then  so  '  gradually  '  tablet  to  his  memory  was  placed  in  City 

as  to  merge  into  '  imperceptibly.'  Road  Chapel.     See  his  autobiography  in 

3  Murlin    entered     the    itinerancy    in  E.M.P.  vol.  iii.  p.  293  ;  also  Atmore's 

1754.     His  disinterested  zeal   is  shown  Memorial,  p.  288. 


352  John   Wesley 's  Journal  sept.  1789. 

grief,  and  shame  ;  but  could  only  tell  it  by  her  eyes  and  her 
tears. 

About  this  time  I  received  a  remarkable  letter  from  abroad, 
an  extract  of  which  follows  : 

Berlin,  Aug.  26,  1759. 

God  has  again  wrought  publicly  in  this  place,  in  the  presence 
of  many  thousand  people.  A  soldier  of  the  King's  Guard  was 
sentenced  to   be  hanged   for   desertion  and   theft.     He  was  a  wretch 

abandoned  to  all  manner  of  wickedness.     General  K was  much 

concerned  for  his  soul.  He  earnestly  desired  me  to  take  charge  of 
it,  though  we  saw  no  prospect  of  success.  I  visited  him  the  day 
he  was  condemned,  being  Thursday.  He  seemed  quite  careless  and 
unconcerned.  I  endeavoured  to  convince  him  of  sin,  but  did  not 
perceive  any  effect.  I  begged  of  him  not  to  deceive  his  own  soul, 
but  to  consider  the  condition  he  was  in.  On  Friday  this  began  to 
sink  into  his  heart,  and  on  Saturday  much  more.  Perceiving  this, 
I  much  insisted  on  those  words  :  '  This  is  a  faithful  saying,  and  worthy 
of  all  acceptation,  that  Christ  Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  save 
sinners.'  The  effect  was  astonishing.  He  laid  hold  of  them  by 
faith,  and  not  only  his  burden  was  gone,  but  he  had  such  experience 
of  the  love  of  Christ  as  it  is  impossible  to  describe.  His  peace, 
triumph,  and  joy  increased  every  hour  till  the  night  before  his  exe- 
cution, and  indeed  were  never  more  observable  than  when  he  was 
brought  out  of  prison.  -In  his  way  to  the  place  of  execution  he  praised 
God  for  dragging  him,  as  it  were,  with  chains  to  heaven.  '  What  ! ' 
said  he,  '  will  God,  after  all  my  hellish  actions,  give  me  eternal  life 
into  the  bargain  ? '  The  efficacy  of  the  blood  and  death  of  Christ 
being  made  known  to  him  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  he  spoke  of  nothing 
but  his  wedding-day,  which  was  to  be  this  13th  of  August.  Every  one 
that  looked  upon  him  was  struck.  Officers  and  all  were  moved.  Being 
entered  into  the  ring,  I  once  more  prayed  with  him,  and  gave  him  the 
last  blessing.     But  the  very  instant  he  was  to  be  turned  off,  Colonel 

H called  out  '  Pardon !  '     I   was  thunderstruck,  and   Mittelstadt 

protested  it  was  to  him  like  a  ball  shot  through  his  body.  He  fainted 
away  for  some  time.  Being  recovered,  his  first  words  were,  'Why 
was  I  not  rather  hanged,  or  even  crucified,  than  pardoned  ?  Why 
am  I  thus  stopped  in  my  course  ?  I  should  now  have  been  with 
Christ !  '  I  was  myself  more  afraid  of  him  now  than  ever.  But  the 
grace  of  God  was  strong  in  his  soul.  And  ever  since  it  has  continued 
the  same.  Yesterday  I  was  informed  by  one  who  went  on  purpose  to 
inquire  that  his  whole  employ  during  his  confinement  (which  is  to 
continue  six  months)  is  reading,  praying,  and  comforting  himself  with 
the  blood  of  Christ. 


sept.  i769.i  West  Street   Chapel  353 


Mon.  10. — We  took  horse  at  half-hour  after  four.  Before 
eight  it  was  as  warm  as  it  is  usually  at  Midsummer  ;  and 
from  ten  we  had  the  sun  in  our  face  all  the  way  to  Colchester. 
But  we  had  the  wind  in  our  face,  too,  or  the  heat  would  have 
been  insupportable.  I  was  in  a  fever  from  the  moment  I  came 
into  the  house  ;  but  it  did  not  hinder  me  from  preaching  on 
the  Green,1  and  afterwards  meeting  the  society.  1  then  lay 
down  as  soon  as  possible,  but  could  not  sleep  a  quarter  of 
an  hour  till  between  two  and  three  in  the  morning.  I  do  not 
know  that  I  have  lost  a  night's  sleep  before,  sick  or  well,  since 
I  was  six  years  old.  But  it  is  all  one  :  God  is  able  to  give 
strength,  either  with  sleep  or  without  it.  I  rose  at  my  usual 
time,  and  preached  at  five,  without  any  faintness  or  drowsiness. 

Thar.  13. — We  set  out  between  four  and  five,  and  rode  to 
Dunmow,  about  four-and-twenty  miles  a ;  but  here  we  were  at 
a  full  stop.  None  could  direct  us  any  farther.  So  we  were  to 
cross  the  country  as  well  as  we  could.  But  whenever  we  were 
at  a  loss  (eight  or  ten  times)  we  met  some  one  to  help  us  out. 
So  about  half  an  hour  past  one  we  were  come  within  sixteen 
miles  of  Sundon. 

An  honest  blunderer  then  undertook  to  direct  us  a  nearer 
way.  By  his  help  we  wandered  up  and  down,  till  our  sixteen 
miles  grew  into  six-and-twenty.  However,  we  got  to  Sundon 
before  seven,  where  a  considerable  number  of  people  soon  met,  to 
whom  I  explained  (what  they  seemed  to  know  very  little  of) 
'  the  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.' 

Fri.  14. — I  returned  to  London. 

Sat.  15. —  Having  left  orders  for  the  immediate  repairing  of 
West  Street  Chapel,  I  went  to  see  what  they  had  done,  and  saw 
cause  to  praise  God  for  this  also.  The  main  timbers  were  so 
rotten  that  in  many  places  one  might  thrust  his  fingers  into 
them.  So  that  probably,  had  we  delayed  till  spring,  the  whole 
building  must  have  fallen  to  the  ground.3 


1  See  above,  p.  289.  bably  it  was  to  visit  his  friends  there,  Mr. 

1  It  would  be  interesting  to  know  why  and   Mrs.     Cole.       On    an   earlier   visit 

he   made   this   long   detour  of  sixty   to  (March  6-9,  1758)  he  stayed  three  days, 

seventy  miles,  from  Colchester  via  Dun-  See  above,  pp.  94,  254. 

mow  (where  he  does  not  appear  to  have  3  On  Sunday  the  16th  he  preached  at 

stayed)    to    Sundon — due   west.       Pro-  Snowsfields. 


354  John    Wesley  s  Journal  tsept.  1759. 

Mon.  17. — I  went  to  Canterbury.  Two  hundred  soldiers, 
I  suppose,  and  a  whole  row  of  officers,  attended  in  the  evening. 
Their  number  was  increased  the  next  evening,  and  all  behaved 
as  men  fearing  God. 

Wed.  19. — I  preached  at  Dover,  in  the  new  room,  which  is 
just  finished.  Here  also  the  hearers  increase,  some  of  whom 
are  convinced  and  others  comforted  daily. 

Thur.  20. — I  strongly  applied  at  Canterbury,  to  the  soldiers 
in  particular,  '  He  that  hath  the  Son  hath  life,  and  he  that  hath 
not  the  Son  of  God  hath  not  life.'  The  next  day,  in  my  return 
to  London,  I  read  Mr.  Huygens's  Conjectures  on  the  Planetary 
World}  He  surprised  me.  I  think  he  clearly  proves  that  the 
moon  is  not  habitable  ;  that  there  are  neither 

Rivers  nor  mountains  on  her  spotty  globe  2 ; 

that  there  is  no  sea,  no  water  on  her  surface,  nor  any  atmosphere. 
And  hence  he  very  rationally  infers  that  '  neither  are  any  of 
the  secondary  planets  inhabited.'  And  who  can  prove  that  the 
primary  are  ?  I  know  the  earth  is.  Of  the  rest  I  know 
nothing. 

Sun.  23. — A  vast  majority  of  the  immense  congregation  in 
Moorfields  were  deeply  serious.  One  such  hour  might  convince 
any  impartial  man  of  the  expediency  of  field-preaching.  What 
building,  except  St.  Paul's  Church,  would  contain  such  a  con- 
gregation ?  And  if  it  would,  what  human  voice  could  have 
reached  them  there  ?  By  repeated  observations  I  find  I  can 
command  thrice  the  number  in  the  open  air  that  I  can  under  a 
roof.  And  who  can  say  the  time  for  field-preaching  is  over, 
while,  (1)  greater  numbers  than  ever  attend  ;  (2)  the  converting 
as  well  as  convincing  power  of  God  is  eminently  present  with 
them  ? 

Mon.  24. — I  preached  about  eight  at  Brentford,  and  in  the 
evening  at  Basingstoke,  to  a  people  slow  of  heart  and  dull  of 
understanding. 


1  Christian     Huygens,     a     celebrated  1  See  Milton,   Paradise  Lost,    i.    291, 

mathematician,  born  at  the  Hague  1629,  where  Satan's  shield   is   likened  to  the 

died   1695  ;    author  of   Celestial   Worlds  enlarged    orb    of     the     moon    as     seen 

Discovered,   1699.     See  W.H.S.  vol.  iv.  through  the  telescope  {W.H.S.  vol.   v, 

p.  134.  p.  116). 


Oct.  1759. 


The  French   Prisoners  355 


Tues.  25. — I  preached  in  the  new  house  at  Whitchurch,  and 
at  Salisbury  in  the  evening".  The  new  room  there  is,  I  think, 
the  most  complete  in  England.  It  strikes  every  one  of  any 
taste  that  sees  it ;  not  with  any  single  part,  but  an  inexpressible 
something  in  the  whole. 

The  militia  from  Hampshire  being  in  town,  a  large  number 
of  them  were  at  the  preaching.  But  it  was  as  music  to  a  horse  ; 
such  brutish  behaviour  have  I  seldom  seen.  The  next  evening 
they  behaved,  if  possible,  worse  than  before.  However,  many  of 
them,  I  believe,  were  struck  ;  for  they  came  again  in  the 
morning,  and  then  appeared  to  be  of  quite  another  spirit, 
earnestly  attending  to  what  was  spoken. 

Thur.  27. — I  had  appointed  to  preach  at  seven  in  the 
evening  at  Bradford  '  ;  but  when  I  came  I  found  Mr.  Hart  was 
to  preach  at  six.2  So  I  delayed  till  the  church  service  was 
ended,  that  there  might  not  appear  (at  least  on  my  part)  even 
the  shadow  of  opposition  between  us. 

Fri.  28. — I  reached  Bristol. 

Sun.  30. — The  weather  being  fair  and  calm,  I  preached  in 
the  new  Square,3  for  the  sake  of  many  people  who  do  not  choose 
to  come  to  the  room.  My  text  was,  '  Him  that  cometh  unto  Me 
I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out.'  I  believe  many  found  desires 
of  coming  to  Him.  Oh  that  they  may  be  brought  to  good 
effect  ! 

Oct.  I,  Mon. — All  my  leisure  time  during  my  stay  at 
Bristol  I  employed  in  finishing  the  fourth  volume  of  Discourses ; 
probably  the  last  which  I  shall  publish.4 

Mon.  15. — I  walked  up  to  Knowle,  a  mile  from  Bristol,  to 
see  the  French  prisoners.  Above  eleven  hundred  of  them,  we 
were  informed,  were  confined  in  that  little  place  without  any- 
thing to  lie  on  but  a  little  dirty  straw,  or  anything  to  cover  them 
but  a  few  foul,  thin  rags,  either  by  day  or  night,  so  that  they 
died  like  rotten  sheep.  I  was  much  affected,  and  preached  in 
the  evening    on    Exod.    xxiii.    9,   '  Thou    shalt    not   oppress   a 


1  Bradford-on-Avon.  in  the  neighbourhood,  and  Wesley  often 

■  Mr.  Hart  was  newly  presented  to  the  preached  there, 
living  of  St.  George's,  Kingswood.  4  Issued    in   the    following    year.      It 

1  King's  Square  (see   W.H.S.   vol.  ii.  contained   seven  sermons  and  six  tracts. 

pp.   104-10).     Famous  Methodists  lived  See  Green's  Bibliography,  No.  200. 


356  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [Oct.  1759. 

stranger ;  for  ye  know  the  heart  of  a  stranger,  seeing  ye  were 
strangers  in  the  land  of  Egypt'  Eighteen  pounds  were  con- 
tributed immediately,  which  were  made  up  four-and-twenty  the 
next  day.  With  this  we  bought  linen  and  woollen  cloth,  which 
were  made  up  into  shirts,  waistcoats,  and  breeches.  Some 
dozen  of  stockings  were  added  ;  all  which  were  carefully  dis- 
tributed where  there  was  the  greatest  want.  Presently  after, 
the  Corporation  of  Bristol  sent  a  large  quantity  of  mattresses 
and  blankets  ;  and  it  was  not  long  before  contributions  were 
set  on  foot  at  London,1  and  in  various  parts  of  the  kingdom,  so 
that  I  believe  from  this  time  they  were  pretty  well  provided  with 
all  the  necessaries  of  life.2 

Mon.  22.— I  left  Bristol,  and,  having  preached  at  Shepton, 
Coleford,  Frome,  and  Salisbury  in  my  way,  on  Thursday 
the  25th  determined  to  try  if  I  could  do  any  good  at  Andover. 
The  congregation  at  ten  in  the  morning  was  small ;  in  the 
evening  their  number  was  increased,  and  I  think  some  of 
them  went  away  crying  out,  '  God  be  merciful  to  me,  a 
sinner  ! ' 

Fri.  26. — I  rode  to  Basingstoke.  I  was  extremely  tired 
when  I  came  in,  but  much  less  so  after  preaching.  I  then  sent 
to  inquire  if  there  was  a  vacant  place  in  any  of  the  coaches 
which  were  going  to  London  the  next  day  ;  but  they  were  all 
full,  and  I  had  promised  to  send  back  my  mare  to  Bristol. 
The  only  way  that  remained  was  to  take  Joseph  Jones's  horse, 
and  let  him  ride  behind  one  of  the  coaches.  So  I  ordered  the 
horse  to  be  brought  soon  after  four  in  the  morning,  and  was 
waiting  for  the  coach,  when  a  post-chaise  drove  by.  I  rode 
close  after  it,  though  it  was  so  dark   I  could  not  see  my  horse's 


1  The  contributions  from  London  were  Bristol  to  Mr. describing  an  in- 
doubtless  the  result  of  a  powerful  appeal  vestigation  respecting  the  French  pri- 
published  by  Wesley  in  Lloyd's  Evening  soners  at  Knowle,  which  '  many  terrible 
Post  (Pawlyn's  Bristol,  p.  53).  accounts  '  had  moved  him  to  make.    They 

'-'  The  entries  in  the  Sermon  Register  were  said  to  hare  'died  in  whole  shoals.' 

during  the  interval  between  Oct.   1  and  He  shows  that  these  accounts  were  quite 

22  are  few.     He  was  busy  with  work  for  baseless,  but  he  appeals  to  the  gentlemen 

the  press.     But  Wednesday  the  3rd  he  of  Bristol    for  clothing   in  view  of  the 

preached  at  Warminster ;  on  Sunday  the  winter  now  coming  upon  them  in  a  cold 

7th  at '  NorthCommon';  Tuesday  the  9th,  prison,  and  a  colder  climate  than  most 

Bristol ;  and  again  at  Bristol  on  Thursday  of    them    have     been     accustomed     to. 

the   18th.     On  Oct.   20   he  wrote  from  ( Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  266.) 


Nov.  1759.1 


In  London  357 


head  ;  but  I  could  hear,  which  was  enough.  About  daybreak 
it  drove  away  ;  but  then  I  could  see  the  road.  It  rained  without 
intermission  from  the  time  I  took  horse  till  I  came  to  the 
Foundery  ;  so  that  I  was  wet  through  a  great  part  of  the  day. 
But  it  did  me  no  hurt  at  all. 

Sun.  28. — I  found  the  ancient  spirit  in  the  congregation, 
both  at  Spitalfields  and  the  Foundery.1 

Tues.  30. — I  preached  at  Deptford,  and  rejoiced  to  find  an 
increasing  work  there  also.  Wednesday  and  Thursday  I  spent 
in  revising  and  perfecting  a  Treatise  on  Electricity? 

Nov.  2,  Fri. — I  spent  an  hour  with  that   miracle  of  mercy, 

Miss ;  a  clear  proof  that  God  can,  even  without  external 

means,  preserve  a  bush  in  the  midst  of  the  fire. 

Sun.  4. — As  I  was  applying  those  words,  '  They  neither 
marry,  nor  are  given  in  marriage  ;  neither  can  they  die  any 
more,  for  they  are  equal  to  angels,'  the  power  of  God  fell  upon 
the  congregation  in  a  very  uncommon  manner.  How  season- 
able !  Oh  how  does  God  sweeten  whatever  cross  we  bear  for 
His  sake  ! 

Mon.  12. — I  talked  with  J D ,  a  gentleman's  coach- 
man, an  uncommon  monument  of  mercy.  Last  year  he  was  a 
violent  persecutor  of  the  truth,  and  of  his  wife  for  the  sake  of  it ; 
but  the  second  or  third  time  he  heard  for  himself,  he  was 
thoroughly  convinced.  Soon  after  he  entered  into  the  society, 
and  in  six  weeks  found  peace  with  God.  Yet  his  natural 
tempers  quickly  revived,  which  made  him  restless  after  a 
thorough  change.  In  spring  this  restlessness  so  increased  that 
he  was  crying  to  God  day  and  night,  till  on  Sunday,  May  27, 
he  was  utterly  broken  in  pieces,  and  ready  to  cast  away  the 
hope  of  it.  But  just  as  he  received  the  bread  in  the  Lord's 
Supper,  the  love  of  God  filled  his  heart  ;  and  from  that  moment 
he  had  no  doubt,  but  has  continued  always  rejoicing,  always 
praying,  and  praising  God.3 


1  On  Monday  the  29th  he  preached  at  Common  Sense.'     See   Works,   vol.   xiv. 

Spitalfields  ;  on  Wednesday,  Nov.   7,  at  p.  241,  where  the  preface  is  printed  in 

Bishop  Bonner's,  and   on  Thursday  the  extenso,  and  dated  Nov.  1,  1759;  Green's 

8th  at  West  Street.  Bibliography,     No.    202 ;     also    above, 

■  Published  in  1760  as  '  The  Desidera-  p.  190. 
turn ;    or.    Electricity    made    Plain    and  '  On    the    1 2th  he    preached    at   Zoar 

Useful.      By  a  Lover  of  Mankind  and  ot  Chapel  {Life  of  Eleanor  Dornford,  p.  17). 
VOL.    IV  22 


358  John    Wesley 's  Journal  rNo?.  1759. 

Sat.  1  J. — I  spent  an  hour  agreeably  and  profitably  with 
Lady  G[ertrude]  H[otham],  and  Sir  C[harles]  Hfotham].1  It  is 
well  a  few  of  the  rich  and  noble  are  called.  Oh  that  God  would 
increase  their  number !  But  I  should  rejoice  (were  it  the  will  of 
God)  if  it  were  done  by  the  ministry  of  others.  If  I  might 
choose,  I  should  still  (as  I  have  done  hitherto)  preach  the  gospel 
to  the  poor.2 

Mon.  19. — I  spent  an  hour  with  Mr.  B.,  who  has  escaped 
from  Guadaloupe  as  with  the  skin  of  his  teeth.  He  informed 
me  that  all  the  water  they  had  in  the  voyage  stunk  intolerably  ; 
that  the  biscuit  was  full  of  maggots,  and  the  beef  mere  carrion, 
so  that  none  could  bear  to  stand  near  a  cask  when  it  was 
opened.  What  wonder  that  the  poor  men  died  in  troops  !  Who 
shall  answer  for  their  blood  ? 

Thur.  22. — I  took  horse  between  six  and  seven,  in  one  of  the 
coldest  mornings  I  ever  remember.  We  reached  St.  Albans 
without  much  difficulty ;  but  then  the  roads  were  all  covered 
with  snow.  However,  there  was  a  beaten  path,  though  slippery 
enough,  till  we  turned  into  the  by-road  to  Sundon.  What  we 
could  have  done  there  I  cannot  tell,  for  the  snow  lay  deeper  and 
deeper,  had  not  a  wagon  gone  awhile  before  us,  and  marked 
the  way  for  six  miles  to  Mr.  Cole's  gate.3 

Fri.  23. — The  roads  were  so  extremely  slippery,  it  was  with 
much  difficulty  we  reached  Bedford.  We  had  a  pretty  large 
congregation,  but  the  stench  from  the  swine  under  the  room 
was  scarce   supportable.     Was   ever  a   preaching-place   over  a 


1  In  '  Charles  Wesley's  Account  of  his  family,    and    relationships   of    Christian 

Two  Sons,'  published  with  his  Journal,  affection  between  them  and  the  Wesleys. 

vol.    ii.    pp.    140  ff.,   he  says  of  Charles  On    the    death    of  Lady  Hotham,    the 

when    about    seven  :    '  Lady    Gertrude  wife  of  Sir  Charles  (Lady  Gertrude  was 

Hotham  heard  him  with  much  satisfac-  probably  his  mother)  in    1756,  Charles 

tion  and  made  him  a  present  of  all  her  Wesley   wrote   a   hymn   of  twenty-nine 

music.  ...   Sir    Charles    Hotham    was  six-lined  verses  in  five  parts.     The  fine 

particularly  fond  of  him,  promised  him  tune   set    in   the   early  Methodist  tune- 

an  organ,  and  that  he  should  never  want  books  to  '  Jesu,  Lover  of  my  soul,'  was 

any  means  or  encouragement  in  the  pur-  composed   by   Madan,  and  was   named 

suit  of  his  art.     But  he  went  abroad  soon  after  his  and  Wesley's  friend,  Sir  Charles 

after,  and  was  thence  translated  to  the  Hotham. 

heavenly  country.'     In  letters  to  his  wife  •  On  Sunday,  Nov.  18,   he   preached 

(LXIII,  LXXV,  LXXVI,  LXXX)  the  at  the  Foundery  and  Spitalfields. 

references     indicate    the    piety    of    the  J  See  W.M.  Mag.  1849,  p.  490. 


Nov.  1759.]  Everton   and    Wrest lingivorth  359 


hog-sty  before  ?     Surely  they  love  the  gospel  who  come  to  hear 
it  in  such  a  place.1 

Sat.  24.— We  rode  to  Everton,  Mr.  Berridge  being  gone  to 
preach  before  the  University  at  Cambridge.  Many  people 
came  to  his  house  in  the  evening,  and  it  was  a  season  of  great 
refreshment. 

Sun.  25. — I  was  a  little  afraid  my  strength  would  not  suffice 
for  reading  prayers  and  preaching,  and  administering  the  Lord's 
Supper  alone,  to  a  large  number  of  communicants  ;  but  all  was 
well.  Mr.  Hicks  began  his  own  service  early,  and  came  before 
I  had  ended  my  sermon.  So  we  finished  the  whole  before  two, 
and  I  had  time  to  breathe  before  the  evening  service. 

In  the  afternoon  God  was  eminently  present  with  us,  though 
rather  to  comfort  than  convince.  But  I  observed  a  remarkable 
difference  since  I  was  here  before  as  to  the  manner  of  the  work. 
None  now  were  in  trances,  none  cried  out,  none  fell  down  or 
were  convulsed  ;  only  some  trembled  exceedingly,  a  low  murmur 
was  heard,  and  many  were  refreshed  with  the  multitude  of 
peace. 

The  danger  was  to  regard  extraordinary  circumstances  too 
much,  such  as  outcries,  convulsions,  visions,  trances  ;  as  if  these 
were  essential  to  the  inward  work,  so  that  it  could  not  go  on 
without  them.  Perhaps  the  danger  is  to  regard  them  too  little, 
to  condemn  them  altogether ;  to  imagine  they  had  nothing  of 
God  in  them,  and  were  a  hindrance  to  His  work.  Whereas  the 
truth  is:  (1)  God  suddenly  and  strongly  convinced  many  that 
they  were  lost  sinners,  the  natural  consequence  whereof  were 
sudden  outcries  and  strong  bodily  convulsions  ;  (2)  to  strengthen 
and  encourage  them  that  believed,  and  to  make  His  work  more 
apparent,  He  favoured  several  of  them  with  divine  dreams,  others 
with  trances  and  visions  ;  (3)  in  some  of  these  instances,  after  a 
time,  nature  mixed  with  grace  ;  (4)  Satan  likewise  mimicked 
this  work  of  God,  in  order  to  discredit  the  whole  work.  And  yet 
it  is  not  wise  to  give  up  this  part,  any  more  than  to  give  up 
the  whole.  At  first  it  was,  doubtless,  wholly  from  God.  It  is 
partly  so  at  this  day  ;  and   He  will  enable  us  to  discern  how 


1  John  Walsh  had  been  there  the  under  the  room '  (Letter  in  Arm.  Mag. 
previous  year  and  found  that  '  many  had  1780,  p.  104).  The  room  in  George 
left  off  hearing  because  hogs  were  kept       Street,  Walsall,  was  over  a  hog-maiket. 


360  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Nov.  1769. 

far,  in  every  case,  the  work  is  pure,  and  where  it  mixes  or 
degenerates. 

Let  us  even  suppose  that,  in  some  few  cases,  there  was  a  mix- 
ture of  dissimulation — that  persons  pretended  to  see  or  feel  what 
they  did  not,  and  imitated  the  cries  or  convulsive  motions  of 
those  who  were  really  overpowered  by  the  Spirit  of  God  ;  yet  even 
this  should  not  make  us  either  deny  or  undervalue  the  real  work 
of  the  Spirit.  The  shadow  is  no  disparagement  of  the  substance, 
nor  the  counterfeit  of  the  real  diamond. 

We  may  further  suppose  that  Satan  will  make  these  visions 
an  occasion  of  pride.  But  what  can  be  inferred  from  hence? 
Nothing,  but  that  we  should  guard  against  it  ;  that  we  should 
diligently  exhort  all  to  be  little  in  their  own  eyes,  knowing  that 
nothing  avails  with  God  but  humble  love.  But  still,  to  slight 
or  censure  visions  in  general  would  be  both  irrational  and 
unchristian. 

Mon.  26. — In  the  evening  I  preached  in  Mr.  Hicks's  church 
at  Wrestlingworth,  and  at  ten  the  next  morning.  The  people 
were  deeply  attentive,  but  none  were  so  affected  as  when  I  was 
here  last.  In  the  evening  Mr.  B[erridge]  returned  from  preach- 
ing before  the  University.  In  the  midst  of  the  sermon,  he 
informed  me,  one  person  cried  out  aloud,  but  was  silent  in  a  few 
moments.  Several  dropped  down,  but  made  no  noise,  and  the 
whole  congregation,  young  and  old,  behaved  with  seriousness. 
God  is  strong  as  well  as  wise  :  who  knows  what  work  He  may 
have  to  do  here  also  ? 

Wed.  28. — I  returned  to  London,1  and  on  Thursday  the 
29th,  the  day  appointed  for  the  General  Thanksgiving,*  I 
preached  again  in  the  chapel  near  the  Seven  Dials,  both  morning 
and  afternoon.  I  believe  the  oldest  man  in  England  has  not 
seen  a  thanksgiving-day  so  observed  before.    It  had  the  solemnity 


1  From  the  wording  we  may  infer  that  and  in  SeptemberWolfe  captured  Quebec, 

he  had  already  preached  at  West  Street  winning  Canada  for  England.     The  im- 

(hence  the  next  sentence  :   '  I  preached  portance  of  Hawke's  victory  in  Quiberon 

again  in  the  chapel ')  ;  on  the   30th   at  Bay  may  be  inferred  from  the  following  : 

the  Bull-and-Mouth,  on  Dec.  2  at  Spital-  '  If  the  Brest  ships  were  not  completely 

fields ;  on  the  4th  at  the  Foundery,  and  wiped  out  as  a  result  of  the  action,  the 

(probably)  at  Zoar  on  the  6th.  French  fleet  ceased   to  be   an    offensive 

1  In    August    the    battle    of    Minden  force.'   {England  under  the  Hanoverians, 

saved    Hanover  for  the    British   Crown,  p.  152.) 


Dec.  1759. 1 


A   Chancery  Bill  361 


of  the  General  Fast.  All  the  shops  were  shut  up  ;  the  people 
in  the  streets  appeared  one  and  all  with  an  air  of  seriousness  ; 
the  prayers,  lessons,  and  whole  public  service  were  admirably 
suited  to  the  occasion.  The  prayer  for  our  enemies,  in  particular, 
was  extremely  striking  ;  perhaps  it  is  the  first  instance  of  the 
kind  in  Europe.  There  was  no  noise,  hurry,  bonfires,  fireworks 
in  the  evening,  and  no  public  diversions.  This  is  indeed  a 
Christian  holiday,  a  'rejoicing  unto  the  Lord.'  The  next  day 
came  the  news  that  Sir  Edward  Hawke  had  dispersed  the  French 
fleet.1 

Dec.  Sun.  9. — I  had,  for  the  first  time,  a  lovefeast  for  the 
whole  society. 

Wed.  12. — I  began  reading  over  the  Greek  Testament  and 
the  Notes  with  my  brother  and  several  others,  carefully  com- 
paring the  translation  with  the  original,  and  correcting  or 
enlarging  the  notes  as  we  saw  occasion. 

The  same  day  I  spent  part  of  the  afternoon  in  the  British 
Museum.  There  is  a  large  library,  a  great  number  of  curious 
manuscripts,  many  uncommon  monuments  of  antiquity,  and 
the  whole  collection  of  shells,  butterflies,  beetles,  grasshoppers, 
&c,  which  the  indefatigable  Sir  Hans  Sloane,  with  such  vast 
expense  and  labour,  procured  in  a  life  of  fourscore  years.2 

Fri.  14. — I  was  at  a  Christian  wedding,3  to  which  were 
invited  only  two  or  three  relations,  and  five  clergymen,  who 
spent  part  of  the  afternoon  in  a  manner  suitable  to  the  solemn 
occasion.4 

Wed.  19. — I  was  desired  to  read  over  a  Chancery  Bill.  The 
occasion  of  it  was  this  :  A.  B.  tells  C.  D.  that  one  who  owed 
him  thirty  pounds  wanted  to  borrow  thirty  more,  and  asked 
whether  he  thought  the  eighth  part  of  such  a  ship,  then  at  sea, 
was  sufficient  security.     He  said  he  thought  it  was.     On  this 


1  On  Saturday,  Dec.  8,  he  preached  at  ford,  with  Miss  Eleanor  Layton,  at  St. 

Snowsfields,  on  Sunday  the  9th  at  West  Dunstan's,  Fleet  Street.   The 'clergymen  ' 

Street,  and  Tuesday  the  nth  at  Wands-  were  the  Revs.  W.  Romaine  (who  offici- 

worth.  ated),    Jones    of   Southwark,    Maxfield, 

-  See  Gent.'s  Mag.  181 3,  p.  209,  for  an  Charles  Wesley,  and  John  Wesley  (who 

admirable   description  of  the   museum  ;  gave  away  the  bride),  '  and  their  wives ' 

also  IV.H.S.  vol.  iii.  p.  209,  where  Mrs.  (Life  of  Eleanor  Dornford ;  see   W.M. 

Delany's   Life   and   Letters    is    referred  Mag.   191 1.  p.  621). 

to.  *  On  Sunday,  Dec.  16,  he  preached  at 

*  That  of  Josiah   Dornford,  of  Dept-  Spitalfields. 


0 


62  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Dec.  1709. 


A.  B.  lent  the  money.  The  ship  came  home  ;  but,  through 
various  accidents,  the  eighth  part  yielded  only  twenty  pounds. 
A.  B.  on  this  commenced  a  suit,  to  make  C.  D.  pay  him  the 
residue  of  his  money. 

This  worthy  story  is  told  in  no  less  than  a  hundred  and 
ten  sheets  of  paper  !  C.  D.  answers,  he  advised  to  the  best  of 
his  judgement  ;  not  foreseeing  those  accidents  whereby  the 
share  which  cost  two  hundred  pounds  yielded  no  more  than 
twenty.  This  answer  brought  on  fifteen  sheets  of  exceptions, 
all  which  a  quarter  of  a  sheet  might  have  contained.  I  desired 
the  plaintiff  and  defendant  to  meet  me  the  next  day  ;  both  of 
whom  were  willing  to  stand  to  arbitration  ;  and  they  readily 
agreed  that  C.  D.  should  pay  half  his  own  costs,  and  A.  B.  the 
rest  of  the  expense. 

Fri.  21. — I  inquired  into  the  particulars  of  a  very  remark- 
able story.  A  ship,  laden  with  wheat,  and  having  no  other 
ballast,  about  one  in  the  morning  on  Sunday,  November  18, 
the  wind  blowing  hard,  shifted  her  cargo,  and  in  half  an  hour 
sunk.  Mr.  Austin,  the  mate,  leaped  off  her  side  as  she  sunk  ; 
and,  being  an  excellent  swimmer,  kept  above  water  till  he  saw 
something  floating  toward  him,  which  proved  to  be  the  capstan 
of  the  ship.  He  got  upon  it,  and,  although  washed  off  several 
times,  yet  still  recovered  his  seat,  and  floated  all  day  and  all 
the  following  night  ;  but  on  Monday  morning  he  was  quite 
exhausted,  and  faint  almost  to  death  with  thirst,  having 
swallowed  abundance  of  salt  water.  In  this  extremity  he  saw 
some  apples  floating  toward  him.  He  took  up  three,  ate  them, 
and  was  much  strengthened.  About  noon  Admiral  Saunders's 
fleet  came  in  sight,  one  of  whose  ships  saw,  and  took  him  up. 
He  could  not  stand,  but,  being  blooded,  and  put  into  a  warm 
bed,  and  fed  with  small  broth,  a  spoonful  or  two  at  a  time,  he 
recovered  strength  apace,  and  in  a  few  days  was  as  well  as  ever. 

Sat.  22. — I  went  to  Colchester,  and  on  Sunday  the  23rd 
preached  in  the  shell  of  the  new  house.  It  is  twelve-square, 
and  is  the  best  building,  of  the  size,  for  the  voice,  that  I  know 
in  England.1 

Mon.  24. — We  did  not  set  out  till  after  seven,  intending  to 


The  Caslle  brewery,  in  Maidenburgh  Street,  now  occupies  the  site. 


Jan.  1760.1  In  East  Angtia  363 

ride  about  forty  miles  ;  but,  coming  to  Scole   Inn  l  before  three, 
we  pushed  on,  and  before  seven  came  safe  to  Norwich. 

riinr.  27. — I  began  visiting  the  society,  and  found  the 
greater  part  much  changed  from  what  they  were  a  year  ago. 
The)-  are  indeed  fewer  in  number,  but  are  now  of  a  teachable 
spirit,  willing  to  be  advised,  or  even  reproved  ;  and,  if  three 
hundred  of  this  spirit  remain,  they  are  worth  all  our  labour. 

1760.  Jan.  i,  Tues. — We  began  the  service  at  four  in  the 
morning.  A  great  number  attended,  and  God  was  in  the  midst, 
strengthening  and  refreshing  their  souls. 

Thur.  3. — In  the  evening,  while  I  was  enforcing  those  awful 
words  of  the  prophet,  '  The  harvest  is  past,  the  summer  is  ended, 
and  we  are  not  saved,'  a  young  woman,  who  had  contained  her- 
self as  long  as  she  could,  sunk  down  and  cried  aloud.  I  found 
this  was  a  new  thing  in  Norwich.  The  women  about  her  got 
water  and  hartshorn  in  abundance  ;  but  all  would  not  do.  When 
the  service  was  ended,  I  asked  her,  '  What  do  you  want  ?  '  She 
immediately  replied,  '  Nothing  but  Christ.'  And  indeed  what 
physician  beside  Him  is  able  to  heal  that  sickness  ? 

Fri.  4. — I  preached  about  one  at  Forncett  to  a  much  milder 
people  than  I  left  there  ;  and  in  the  evening  at  Kenninghall, 
where  the  Antinomians  had  laboured  hard  in  the  devil's  service. 
Yet  all  are  not  lost  ;  a  few  are  still  left  '  who  walk  not  after  the 
flesh,  but  after  the  Spirit.' 

Sat.  5. — I  preached  in  the  evening  at  Colchester  ;  and  on 
Sunday  the  6th  rode  to  Langham  (seven  miles  from  thence),  in 
such  a  day  as  I  have  seldom  known,  the  north-east  wind  was  so 
exceedingly  keen,  and  drove  the  sleet  full  in  our  face  ;  but  this 
did  not  discourage  the  people,  who  flocked  from  all  quarters.  And 
those  who  took  such  pains  to  come  were  not  sent  empty  away. 

Mon.  7. — I  returned  to  London,  and  finished,  on  the  road, 
the  celebrated   Telemachus?     Certainly  it  is  wrote  with  admir- 


1  A  posting-station  on  the  main  toad  '  Fenelon,  Francois  de  Salignac  de  La 
to  Norwich.  The  inn  was  a  large  brick  Mothe  (1651-1715).  The  Adventures  oj 
building  adorned  with  imagery  and  Telemachus  was  first  published  surrep- 
carved  work,  built  in  1655,  with  a  round  titiously  in  Holland  in  1699,  and  after- 
bed  large  enough  for  thirty  or  forty  wards  in  several  editions  in  many 
soldiers.  Formerly  the  address  for  Diss  languages.  {W.H.S.  vol.  iv.  p.  134.) 
was '  near  Scole  Inn.'   W.H.S.vaX.  iv.  p.  83. 


364  John    Wesley  s  Journal  rJan.  mo. 

able  sense.  But  is  it  without  fault  ?  Is  there  not  abundantly 
too  much  machinery?  Are  not  the  gods  (such  as  they  are) 
continually  introduced  without  why  or  wherefore  ?  And  is  not 
the  work  spun  out  too  long;  drawn  into  mere  French  wire? 
Would  not  twelve  books  have  contained  all  the  matter  much 
better  than  four-and-twenty  ? x 

Sun.  13. — I  preached  again  in  West  Street  chapel,  now 
enlarged  and  thoroughly  repaired.2  When  I  took  this,  eighteen 
years  ago,  I  little  thought  the  world  would  have  borne  us  till 
now.  But  the  right  hand  of  the  Lord  hath  the  pre-eminence  ; 
therefore  we  endure  unto  this  day. 

Wed.  16. — One  came  to  me,  as  she  said,  with  a  message 
from  the  Lord,  to  tell  me  I  was  laying  up  treasures  on  earth, 
taking  my  ease,  and  minding  only  my  eating  and  drinking.  I 
told  her,  God  knew  me  better  ;  and,  if  He  had  sent  her,  He  would 
have  sent  her  with  a  more  proper  message.3 

Fn.  18. — I  desired  those  who  believed  they  were  saved  from 
sin  (sixteen  or  seventeen  in  number)  to  meet  me  at  noon  ;  to 
whom  I  gave  such  cautions  and  instructions  as  I  judged  needful. 
Nor  did  any  of  these  pretend  to  be  above  man's  teaching,  but 
received  it  with  all  thankfulness. 

Thur.  24.} — I  rode  to  Brentford,  where,  after  a  stop  of  ten 
or  twelve  years,  the  work  of  God  is  broke  out  afresh.  I  preached 
in  a  large  place  newly  fitted  up.5  It  was  supposed  there  would 
be  much  disturbance,  as  a  considerable  number  of  rude,  boister- 
ous people  were  gathered  together  for  that  purpose.  But  God 
overruled,  and  they  all  calmly  and  silently  attended  to  His  word. 
Surely  the  '  times  and  seasons  '  of  sending  His  word  effectually 
to  any  place  '  God  hath  reserved  in  His  own  power.' 

Mon.  28. — I  began  visiting  the  classes  in  London,  and  that 
with  more  exactness  than  ever  before.  After  going  through 
them,  I  found  the  society  now  contained  about  three-and- 
twenty   hundred   and    fifty    members,  few  of  whom    we  could 


1  On  Tuesday,  Jan.  8,  he  preached  at  weather,  urging  the  sale  ot  The  Christian 
the  Foundery;  and  on  the  nth  at  the  Pattern  and  Primitive  Physick  {Works, 
Foundery  and  Bull-and-Mouth.  vol.  xii.  p.  269). 

2  And  at  Wapping.  5  This  was  a  rented  house,  so  uncomely 
;l  On   Jan.    17   he   preached   at   West  within  and  without  that   it  served  as  a 

Street,  and  on  the  19th  at  Snowsfields.  by-word  in  chapel-building  (cf.  May   16 

4  On  this  date  he  wrote  to  Mr.  Merry-  and  24,  1788). 


Feb.  i76o.:  A   Remarkable  Account  365 

discern  to  be  triflers,  and  none,  we  hope,  live  in  any  wilful 
sin. 

FEB.  5,  Tues. — I  baptized  a  gentlewoman  at  the  Foundery, 
and  the  peace  she  immediately  found  was  a  fresh  proof  that 
the  outward  sign,  duly  received,  is  always  accompanied  with  the 
inward  grace. 

Tues.  12. — After  preaching  at  Deptford '  I  rode  on  to 
Welling,  where  I  received  (what  few  expected)  an  exceeding 
comfortable  account  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Mason,  of  Bexley. 
For  many  years  he  seemed  to  be  utterly  senseless,  neither 
justified,  nor  even  convinced  of  sin.  But  in  his  last  sickness  the 
God  that  heareth  prayer  broke  in  upon  his  soul :  and  the  nearer 
death  came,  the  more  did  he  rejoice,  to  the  astonishment  of  all 
that  saw  him. 

Sal.  16. — I  spent  an  hour  in  the  evening  with  a  little  com- 
pany at  Mr. 's.     I  have  not  known  so  solemn  an  hour  for 

a  long  season,  nor  so  profitable  to  my  own  soul.  Mysterious 
providence  !  Why  am  I  cut  off  from  those  opportunities, 
which  of  all  others  I  most  want?  Especially  considering  the 
benefit  I  might  impart,  as  well  as  that  which  I  might  receive  ; 
seeing  they  stand  in  as  much  need  of  light  as  I  do  of  heat? 

About  this  time  we  had  a  remarkable  account  from 
Yorkshire  : 

On  Friday  the  13th  about  thirty  persons  were  met  together  at 
Otley  (a  town  about  twelve  miles  from  Leeds),  about  eight  o'clock  in 
the  evening,  in  order  (as  usual)  to  pray,  sing  hymns,  and  provoke  one 
another  to  love  and  good  works.  After  prayer  was  ended,  when  they 
proceeded  to  speak  of  the  several  states  of  their  souls,  some,  with  deep 
sighs  and  groans,  complained  of  the  burden  they  felt  for  the  remains  of 
indwelling  sin ;  seeing,  in  a  clearer  light  than  ever  before,  the  necessity 
of  a  deliverance  from  it. 

When  they  had  spent  the  usual  time  together,  a  few  went  to  their 
own  houses  ;  but  the  rest  remained  upon  their  knees,  groaning  for  the 
great  and  precious  promises  of  God.  One  being  desired  to  pray,  he  no 
sooner  began  to  lift  up  his  voice  to  God  than  the  Holy  Ghost  made 


1  Other     preaching    appointments    at  the  7th,  and  West  Street  on  the  9th. 
this  time  include  Snowsfields  on  Feb.  2  ;  '-'  On  Feb.   18  he  wrote  a  letter  from 

Zoar     Chapel    on     the    4th,    Bull-and-  Windmill  Hill  to  Lloyd's  Evening  Post 

Mouth  on  the  6th,  Bishop  Bonner's  on  (Tyerman,  vol.  ii.  p.  348). 


366  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [March  mo. 

intercession  in  all  that  were  present  with  groanings  that  could  not  be 
uttered.  At  length  the  travail  of  their  souls  burst  out  into  loud  and 
ardent  cries.  They  had  no  doubt  of  the  favour  of  God ;  but  they  could 
not  rest  while  there  was  anything  in  them  contrary  to  His  nature.  One 
cried  out,  in  an  exceeding  great  agony,  '  Lord,  deliver  me  from  my 
sinful  nature  ! '  then  a  second,  a  third,  and  a  fourth.  And  while  the 
person  who  prayed  first  was  calling  upon  God  in  those  words,  '  Thou 
God  of  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob,  hear  us  for  the  sake  of  Thy  Son 
Jesus  ! '  one  was  heard  to  say,  '  Blessed  be  the  Lord  God  for  ever,  for 
He  hath  cleansed  my  heart !  Praise  the  Lord,  O  my  soul ;  and  all  that 
is  within  me,  praise  His  holy  name  ! '  Another  said,  '  I  hold  Thee  with 
a  trembling  hand,  but  will  not  let  Thee  go  ' ;  and  in  a  little  time  cried 
out,  '  Praise  the  Lord  with  me ;  for  He  hath  cleansed  my  heart  from 
sin  ! '  Another  cried,  '  I  am  hanging  over  the  pit  of  hell  by  a  slender 
thread ' ;  a  second,  with  loud  and  dismal  shrieks,  '  I  am  in  hell :  oh 
save  me,  save  me  ! '  while  a  third  said,  with  a  far  different  voice, 
'  Blessed  be  the  Lord,  for  He  hath  pardoned  all  my  sins  ! '  Thus  they 
continued  for  the  space  of  two  hours  ;  some  praising  and  magnifying 
God,  some  crying  to  Him  for  pardon  or  purity  of  heart,  with  the 
greatest  agony  of  spirit.  Before  they  parted,  three  believed  God  had 
fulfilled  His  word,  and  '  cleansed  them  from  all  unrighteousness.' 

The  next  evening  they  met  again,  and  the  Lord  was  again  present 
to  heal  the  broken  in  heart.  One  received  remission  of  sins,  and  three 
more  believed  God  had  cleansed  them  from  all  sin.  And  it  is  observ- 
able, these  are  all  poor,  illiterate  creatures,  of  all  others  most  incapable 
of  counterfeiting,  and  most  unlikely  to  attempt  it.  But  '  when '  His 
'word  goeth  forth,  it  giveth  light  and  understanding  to  the  simple.' ' 

Fri.  29. — A  great  number  of  us  waited  upon  God,  at  five, 
at  nine,  and  at  one,  with  fasting  and  prayer ;  and  at  six  in  the 
evening  we  met  at  the  church  in  Spitalfields  to  renew  our 
covenant  with  God.  It  was  a  blessed  time;  the  windows  of 
heaven  were  open,  and  the  skies  poured  down  righteousness.2 

March  3,  Mon. — I  left  London.  It  rained  great  part  of  the 
day,  but  so  gently  that  we  were  not  wet  through  when,  about 
seven,  we  came  to  Towcester.  One  person  3  we  found  here 
whose  soul  God  keeps  alive,  though  he  has  scarce  any  in  the 


1  On  Sunday,  Feb.  17,  he  preached  at  '  Almost    certainly   Samuel     Basford, 

the   Founder)-,   on  Monday   the  25th  at  for  whom   (and  Thomas   Simons),   and 

Wapping,  and  on  the  24th  at  West  Street.  the  beginnings  of  the  work  in  Towcester 

-  On  the  29th  he  preached  also  at  the  and  Whittlebury,  see   Met/i.  Mag.  1801, 

Foundery,  and  on    March    I  at  Snows-  p.  476. 
fields. 


March  1760  ] 


An   Experience  367 


town  to  converse  with.  Perhaps  he  is  an  earnest  of  a  people 
that  shall  be  born  here,  and  'counted  to  the  Lord  for  a  generation.' 

Tues.  4.  —  We  came  to  Birmingham,  where  I  rejoined 
several  who  had  been  long  separated  from  their  brethren  ;  and 
left  upwards  of  fifty  resolved  to  stand  together  in  the  good  old 
path. 

In  the  evening  I  preached  in  the  new  house  at  Wednesbury.1 
Few  congregations  exceed  this  either  in  number  or  seriousness. 
At  five  in  the  morning  the  congregation  far  exceeded  the 
morning  congregation  at  the  Foundery.  Indeed,  hunger  after 
the  word  has  been  from  the  beginning  the  distinguishing  mark 
of  this  people.2 

Thur.  6. — I    talked   largely   with    M S ,  and    Eliz. 

Longmore.3      The  substance   of  what  M S said  was 

as  follows  : 

I  was  born  April  8,  1736.  My  father  died  when  I  was  between  four 
and  five  ;  my  mother  when  I  was  about  eleven  years  old.  I  had  little 
thought  about  religion,  and  seldom  so  much  as  went  to  church.  But 
I  had  even  then  many  troubles,  which  made  me  sometimes  think  of 
God,  and  cry  to  Him  for  help.  When  I  was  about  seventeen  I  was 
asked,  one  Sunday,  to  go  and  see  a  pit,  which  was  on  fire  and  blazed 
out.  It  was  near  the  house  where  Mr.  James  Jones  was  then  preaching. 
I  was  standing  near  the  house,  when  my  brother  persuaded  me  to  go 
in.  I  liked  what  I  heard ;  but  it  was  above  a  year  before  I  knew 
myself  to  be  a  lost  sinner.  For  three  weeks  I  was  in  deep  distress,  which 
made  me  cry  to  God  day  and  night.  I  had  comfort  once  or  twice,  but 
I  checked  it,  being  afraid  of  deceiving  myself;  till,  as  Mr.  Johnson  was 
preaching  one  morning  at  five  o'clock,  in  Darlaston,  my  soul  was  so  filled 
with  the  love  of  God  that  I  had  much  ado  to  help  crying  out.  I  could 
only  say,  '  Why  me,  Lord  ?  why  me  ? '  When  I  came  home  I  was 
exceeding  weak,  having  also  a  great  pain  in  my  head.  But  all  was 
sweet ;  I  did  not  wish  it  to  be  otherwise.  I  was  happy  in  God  all  the 
day  long  ;  and  so  I  was  for  several  days.  From  this  time  I  never  com- 
mitted any  known  sin,  nor  ever  lost  the  love  of  God  ;  though  I  found 
abundance  of  temptations,  and  many  severe  struggles.  Yet  I  was  more 
than  conqueror  over  all,  and  found  them  easier  and  easier. 


'  In  Workhouse  Lane,  now  known  as  the  Society'  {Works,  vol.  xii.  p.   273). 

Meeting  Street  {Methodism  in   Wednes-  In  the  last  of  the  series  (Dec.  10,  17/7), 

bury,  p.  32).  he  subscribes  himself  '  My  dear  Miss  M.,' 

2  On  this  day  he  wrote  the  first  of  a  &c. 

long  series  of  letters  to  'A  Member  of  :l  See  below,  March  18,  1770. 


368  John    Wesley  s  Journal  rMarchi76o. 


About  Christmas,  1758,  I  was  deeply  convinced  there  was  a  greater 
salvation  than  I  had  attained.  The  more  I  saw  of  this,  and  the  more 
I  prayed  for  it,  the  happier  I  was.  And  my  desires  and  hopes  were 
continually  increasing  for  above  a  year. 

On  January  30,  1760,  Mr.  Fugill l  talked  with  one  who  thought  she 
had  received  that  blessing.  As  she  spoke,  my  heart  burned  within  me, 
and  my  desire  was  enlarged  beyond  expression.  I  said  to  him,  '  O  sir, 
when  shall  I  be  able  to  say  as  she  says  ? '  He  answered,  '  Perhaps 
to-night.'  I  said,  '  Nay,  I  am  not  earnest  enough.'  He  replied,  '  That 
thought  may  keep  you  from  it.'  I  felt  God  was  able  and  willing  to 
give  it  then,  and  was  unspeakably  happy.  In  the  evening,  as  he  was 
preaching,  my  heart  was  full,  and  more  and  more  so,  till  I  could  contain 
no  more.  I  wanted  only  to  be  alone,  that  I  might  pour  out  my  soul 
before  God ;  and  when  I  came  home  I  could  do  nothing  but  praise 
and  give  Him  thanks.  From  that  moment  I  have  felt  nothing  but  love 
in  my  heart;  no  sin  of  any  kind.  And  I  trust  I  shall  never  any  more 
offend  God.  I  never  find  any  cloud  between  God  and  me :  I  walk  in 
the  light  continually.  I  do  'rejoice  evermore,'  and  'pray  without 
ceasing.'  I  have  no  desire  but  to  do  and  suffer  the  will  of  God ;  I  aim 
at  nothing  but  to  please  Him.  I  am  careful  for  nothing,  but  in  all 
things  make  my  requests  known  to  Him  with  thanksgiving.  And  I 
have  a  continual  witness  in  myself,  that  whatever  I  do,  I  do  it  to  His 
glory.' 

Elizabeth  Longmore  said: 

I  was  born  in  1730.  My  mother  died  in  childbed  of  me;  my 
father,  when  I  was  a  year  or  two  old.  So  I  was  brought  up  by  the 
parish,  and  taught  nothing,  not  so  much  as  to  read.  About  eleven 
years  old  I  was  put  out  parish  apprentice,  to  a  man  and  woman  who 
used  me  very  harshly.  I  wanted  much  to  learn  to  read;  but  they 
would  not  spare  the  time.  I  was  about  fourteen  when  I  heard  Mr.  J.  W. 
preach  at  the  Cross  in  Wednesbury.  I  immediately  believed  it  was  the 
right  way,  and  began  to  be  very  uneasy.  I  often  wished  I  had  died 
with  my  father  or  mother,  fearing  I  should  never  be  saved.  But  my 
convictions  wore  away  by  degrees ;  though  still  I  could  not  rest. 
About  twenty  I  was  married.  My  husband  had  sometimes  heard  the 
preaching,  but  not  lately.  Soon  after  he  began  again,  going  with  me 
constantly.  I  was  now  more  and  more  convinced  that  I  was  a  guilty, 
undone  sinner.  I  cried  to  God  day  and  night,  laying  down  my  work 
many  times  in  a  day.     On  Holy  Thursday,   1756,  I  was  sadly  afraid  of 


1  William  Fugill  is  one  of  the  early  obituary  notice,  holding  this  unhappy 
Methodist  preachers  on  whose  career  man's  memory  up  as  a  warning  to 
Atmore  wrote  a  perfectly  candid,  if  severe.       others.     (See  Memorial,  p.  147O 


March  1760.1  Another  Experience  369 


going  to  the  sacrament.  However,  I  broke  through  and  went.  At  the 
Lord's  Table  I  found  such  a  love  as  I  cannot  express.  As  soon  as  I 
came  back  I  went  up  into  my  chamber  and  kneeled  down  to  prayer. 
In  praying  I  heard  a  voice,  saying,  'Go  in  peace  ;  thy  sins  are  forgiven 
thee.'  My  soul  sunk  into  nothing  before  God,  and  was  filled  with 
humble  love.  I  loved  God  and  all  mankind,  and  thought  no  temptation 
could  ever  shake  me  more.  But  in  a  few  days,  being  low  and  weak  in 
body,  I  found  hard  thoughts  of  God.  Yet  I  could  not  give  up  my 
confidence  that  my  sins  were  forgiven.  Nor  do  I  know  that  I  ever 
committed  any  wilful  sin  after  I  was  justified.  About  a  year  and  half 
ago  Mr.  Fugill  came.  One  evening,  while  he  was  preaching,  I  was 
convinced  that  my  heart  was  still  desperately  wicked,  and  needed  to  be 
wholly  renewed.  This  made  me  sometimes  afraid  to  die,  lest  I  should 
be  called  before  that  change  was  wrought.  But  I  had  still  hope  at  the 
bottom,  and  never  could  doubt  but  that  God  was  my  God.  In  the 
meanwhile,  my  desire  to  be  wholly  renewed  increased  continually, 
and  I  was  every  day  and  every  hour  praying  for  it,  whatever  I  was 
about.  When  my  hopes  prevailed,  I  was  happy  ;  when  my  fears,  I  was 
quite  cast  down.  Being  convinced  how  little  I  loved  God,  I  was  grieved 
and  ashamed  before  Him. 

On  Friday,  January  25,  I  took  no  food  till  the  afternoon,  though  I 
had  a  child  at  my  breast.  I  was  much  tempted  to  think  I  should  never 
attain,  and  was  quite  uneasy.  But  the  next  morning  my  uneasiness 
was  gone,  and  I  calmly  waited  for  what  I  believed  God  would  soon 
give.  In  the  evening  I  went  to  the  preaching  with  a  full  expectation 
that  He  would  meet  me  there.  And  so  He  did.  As  soon  as  Mr.  Fugill 
began  to  speak,  I  felt  my  soul  was  all  love.  I  was  so  stayed  on  God  as 
I  never  felt  before,  and  knew  that  I  loved  Him  with  all  my  heart. 
When  I  came  home  I  could  ask  for  nothing  ;  I  could  only  give  thanks. 
And  the  witness  that  God  had  saved  me  from  all  my  sins  grew  clearer 
every  hour.  On  Wednesday  this  was  stronger  than  ever.  I  have  never 
since  found  my  heart  wander  from  God.  When  I  have  business  to  do, 
I  just  take  a  thought  and  do  it ;  and  it  is  gone,  and  my  heart  is  with 
the  Lord.  I  often  in  a  day  bow  my  knee  to  God  ;  but  my  heart  prays 
continually.  He  is  never  out  of  my  thoughts  :  I  see  Him  always ; 
although  most  at  preaching,  and  in  my  band  and  class.  But  I  do  not 
only  see  Him  ;  I  feel  Him  too,  so  as  I  cannot  express.  And  the  more 
I  see  and  feel  of  God,  the  more  I  feel  I  am  nothing.  When  I  sleep,  I 
sleep  as  in  the  arms  of  Jesus  ;  and  when  I  wake,  my  soul  is  full  of 
praise,  and  it  is  as  if  all  the  angels  were  in  the  room  round  about  me 
praising  God.  I  never  find  any  heaviness  or  coldness  ;  and  when  I 
must  go  among  the  people  of  the  world,  God  is  as  much  with  me  as 
before,  and  I  long  for  them  so  as  no  tongue  can  tell.  I  am  careful  of 
every  word  I  speak,  and  every  look,  and  every  thought.     I  search  my 


370  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [March  i7eo. 

heart  again  and  again  ;  and  I  can  find  nothing  but  love  there.  Indeed, 
I  know  if  God  left  me  a  moment,  I  should  fall.  But  I  trust  He  will 
never  leave  me  nor  forsake  me. 

I  observe  the  spirit  and  experience  of  these  two  run  exactly 
parallel.  Constant  communion  with  God  the  Father  and  the 
Son  fills  their  hearts  with  humble  love.  Now  this  is  what  I 
always  did,  and  do  now,  mean  by  perfection.  And  this  I  believe 
many  have  attained,  on  the  same  evidence  that  I  believe  many 
are  justified.     May  God  increase  their  number  a  thousandfold  ! 

Fri.  7. — I  rode  over  to  Dudley,  formerly  a  den  of  lions.  I 
was  constrained  to  preach  abroad ;  but  no  one  opened  his 
mouth,  unless  to  pray  or  praise  God.  I  believe  the  steady 
behaviour  of  the  society  has  made  an  impression  on  most  of 
the  town. 

Sat.  8. — I  was  surprised  at  coming  into  Wolverhampton, 
which  is  what  Dudley  was,  to  find  the  people  so  still  ;  many 
gaping  and  staring,  but  none  speaking  an  uncivil  word.  '  Aye,' 
said  a  well-meaning  man,  '  we  shall  not  find  them  so  civil  by- 
and-by.'  I  wish  these  croakers  would  learn  to  hold  their  peace. 
I  desire  to  hear  no  prophets  of  evil.  What  do  they  do  but 
weaken  the  hands  both  of  preachers  and  people,  and  transfuse 
their  own  cowardice  into  others  ? 

But  this  prophet  of  evil  was  a  false  prophet  too.  For  neither 
while  I  was  preaching,  nor  after  I  had  done,  did  any  one  offer 
the  least  rudeness  whatsoever ;  and  we  rode  as  quietly  out  of 
the  town  as  we  could  have  done  out  of  London  or  Bristol. 

Hence  we  went  on  to  Burslem,  near  Newcastle-under-Lyme, 
a  scattered  town  on  the  top  of  a  hill,  inhabited  almost  entirely 
by  potters,  a  multitude  of  whom  assembled  at  five  in  the 
evening.  Deep  attention  sat  on  every  face,  though  as  yet 
accompanied  with  deep  ignorance.  But  if  the  heart  be  toward 
God,  He  will,  in  due  time,  enlighten  the  understanding. 

Sun.  9. — I  preached  at  eight  to  near  double  the  number, 
though  scarce  half  as  many  as  came  at  five  in  the  evening. 
Some  of  these  seemed  quite  innocent  of  thought.  Five  or  six 
were  laughing  and  talking  till  I  had  near  done ;  and  one  of 
them  threw  a  clod  of  earth,  which  struck  me  on  the  side  of  the 
head.     But  it  neither  disturbed  me  nor  the  congregation. 

Mon.   10. — About  nine  I  preached  at  Biddulph,  about  eight 


March  1760.)  A   Mountain  Journey  371 

miles  north  of  Burslem.  The  earnestness  of  the  whole  congre- 
gation well  rewarded  me  for  my  labour.  Hence  we  had  an 
extremely  pleasant  walk,  three  or  four  miles,  to  Congleton. 
Here  we  were  accosted  in  a  very  different  manner,  almost  as 
soon  as  we  entered  the  town,  which  caused  some  of  our  brethren 
to  apprehend  we  should  have  rough  treatment  before  we  got  out 
of  it.  That  I  left  to  God.  They  had  procured  the  use  of  a 
meadow  adjoining  to  the  preaching-house,  in  a  window  of  which 
they  had  fixed  a  kind  of  scaffold.  Most  of  the  congregation 
were  deeply  serious  ;  so  that  three  or  four  who  took  much  pains 
to  disturb  them  entirely  lost  their  labour. 

About  seven  in  the  evening  I  preached  at  Stockport,  where 
more  and  more  hear  the  word  of  God  and  keep  it.  In  the 
morning  we  took  horse  at  five,  but  could  find  none  to  tell  us 
which  was  the  road  to  Leeds ;  so  we  rode  on  to  Mottram. 
Following  the  directions  we  received  there,  we  rode  up  a 
mountain,  and  our  path  ended.  We  made  toward  a  large  house, 
and  the  gentleman  sent  a  servant,  who  pointed  out  the  way  we 
were  to  take.  But  soon  after  it  divided,  and  an  honest  man 
bidding  us  keep  to  the  right  (meaning  the  left),  we  did  so,  till  we 
came  to  the  top  of  another  high  mountain,  among  several  old 
stone  quarries.  Here  that  road  ended.  However,  we  went 
straight  forward,  till  we  came  to  the  brow.  With  great  difficulty 
we  led  our  horses  down,  and  rode  up  a  path  on  the  opposite 
mountain.  But  at  the  top  this  likewise  ended.  Still  we  thought 
it  best  to  push  forward.  But  my  horse  was  quickly  embogged. 
After  he  had  thrown  me  on  one  side,  and  scrambled  out  himself, 
we  endeavoured  to  walk  down  the  mountain  ;  but  such  a  walk 
I  never  had  before,  for  steepness,  and  bogs,  and  large  stones 
intermixed.  That  we  got  to  the  bottom  without  hurt  either  to 
man  or  beast  was  little  less  than  a  miracle.  But  we  were  still 
at  a  loss,  till  we  met  a  sensible  man,  who  directed  us  to 
Saddleworth.  In  our  inn  here  we  found  one  who  had 
frequently  heard  me  preach  at  Builth,  in  Brecknockshire,  I 
fear  to  little  purpose  ;  for,  on  my  speaking  a  few  words,  he 
ran  away  in  haste.  But  the  whole  family  seemed  to  fear 
God.  So  we  did  not  repent  of  our  clambering  up  and  down  the 
mountains. 

At  six  we  reached  Leeds,  sufficiently  tired  ;  but   I   forgot  it 


2,72  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [March i76o. 

as  soon  as  I  began  to  preach,  and  the  spirit  of  the  congregation 
comforted  us  over  all  our  labour. 

Wed.  12. — Having  desired  that  as  many  as  could  of  the 
neighbouring  towns,  who  believed  they  were  saved  from  sin, 
would  meet  me,  I  spent  the  greatest  part  of  this  day  in  examin- 
ing them  one  by  one.  The  testimony  of  some  I  could  not 
receive ;  but  concerning  the  far  greatest  part,  it  is  plain  (unless 
they  could  be  supposed  to  tell  wilful  and  deliberate  lies),  (i) 
that  they  feel  no  inward  sin,  and  to  the  best  of  their  knowledge 
commit  no  outward  sin  ;  (2)  that  they  see  and  love  God  every 
moment,  and  pray,  rejoice,  give  thanks  evermore  ;  (3)  that  they 
have  constantly  as  clear  a  witness  from  God  of  sanctification  as 
they  have  of  justification.  Now  in  this  I  do  rejoice,  and  will 
rejoice,  call  it  what  you  please  ;  and  I  would  to  God  thousands 
had  experienced  thus  much,  let  them  afterward  experience  as 
much  more  as  God  pleases. 

Thur.  13. — We  rode  over  the  mountains,  through  furious 
wind  and  rain,  which  was  ready  to  overthrow  both  man  and 
beast.  However,  in  the  afternoon  we  came  well  to  Manchester. 
On  Friday  the  14th,  being  the  National  Fast  day,  we  had 
service  at  five,  at  seven,  and  at  five  in  the  evening  ;  but  I  did 
not  observe  here  anything  of  that  solemnity  with  which  the 
Public  Fasts  are  observed  in  London.1  I  was  much  out  of 
order  on  Saturday,  and  not  well  on  Sunday.  However,  having 
appointed  to  preach  in  Stockport  at  noon,  I  determined  not  to 
break  my  word.  As  it  rained,  our  friends  provided  a  post- 
chaise.  When  we  were  gone  half  a  mile,  one  of  the  horses 
began  to  kick  and  rear,  and  would  go  no  farther  ;  so  we  got 
out,  and  walked  on  ;  but  another  driver  brought  the  chaise  after, 
and  carried  me  to  Stockport.  A  large  congregation  was  waiting, 
and  received  the  word  with  all  readiness  of  mind.  For  some 
years  the  seed  seemed  to  be  here  sown  in  vain  ;  but  at  length  it 
yields  a  good  increase.2 

On  the  following  days  I  preached  in  several  neighbouring 
towns,  and  on  Wednesday  evening  at  Liverpool. 

Thur.   20. — I    had   a  good   deal   of  conversation    with    Mr. 


Sec  above,  pp.  360-1.  Blackwell  (Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  188).     See 

On  the  17th  he   wrote  a    letter    t*       also  W.H.S.  vol.  iv.  p.  213. 


March  1760.  i 


In  Liverpool  373 


Nfewtojn.1  His  case  is  very  peculiar.  Our  Church  requires 
that  clergymen  should  be  men  of  learning,  and,  to  this  end,  have 
a  university  education.  But  how  many  have  a  university 
education,  and  yet  no  learning  at  all  ?  Yet  these  men  are 
ordained  !  Meantime,  one  of  eminent  learning,  as  well  as  un- 
blamable behaviour,  cannot  be  ordained  because  he  was  not  at 
the  University !  What  a  mere  farce  is  this  !  Who  would 
believe  that  any  Christian  bishop  would  stoop  to  so  poor  an 
evasion  ? 

Mon.  24. — About  noon  I  preached  at  Warrington.  Many 
of  '  the  beasts  of  the  people  '  were  present  ;  but  the  bridle  from 
above  was  in  their  teeth,  so  that  they  made  not  the  least  dis- 
turbance. At  seven  in  the  evening  I  preached  at  Chester ;  but 
I  was  scarce  able  to  open  my  eyes.  They  were  much  inflamed 
before  I  set  out,  and  the  inflammation  was  much  increased  by 
riding  forty  miles  with  a  strong  and  cold  wind  exactly  in  my 
face  ;  but  in  the  evening  I  applied  the  eye-water  made  with 
Lapis  Calaminaris?  which  removed  the  disorder  before 
morning. 

Tues.  25. —  I  rode  to  Mold,  in  Flintshire.  The  wind  was 
often  ready  to  bear  away  both  man  and  horse  ;  but  the  earnest, 
serious  congregation  rewarded  us  for  our  trouble. 

Wed.  26. — About  nine  I  preached  at  Little  Leigh,  a  mile  or 
two  from  Northwich.  Many  of  the  congregation  scarce  ever 
heard  a  Methodist  before  ;  but  I  trust  they  did  not  hear  in 
vain.3 

TJiur.  27. — I  rode  to  Liverpool  in  order  to  embark  for 
Dublin.  We  were  desired  to  be  on  board  by  nine  on  Saturday 
morning ;  but  the  wind  falling,  and  a  fog  coming  on,  we  gained 
a  little  more  time  ;  so  we  had  one  more  solemn  opportunity  in 
the  evening.4 

Sun.  30. — The  fog  was  gone,  and  the  wind  fair.     We  took 


1  He  was  residing  at  Liverpool,  having  T.  E.  Brigden  in  VV.H.S.  vol.  iii.  p.  Il8, 
in  October  1755   been  appointed  a  tide  showing  that  Newton  sometimes  attended 
surveyor,  which  office  he  held  until  1763.  the  Methodist  preaching  in  Liverpool. 
In     1764     Lord     Dartmouth     obtained  *  Carbonate   of  lime  :    found,  for  ex- 
ordination    for    him    from    Dr.    Green,  ample,  at  Shipham  in  the  Mendips. 
Bishop  of  Lincoln,  and  he  was  appointed  J  In  March  (day  unknown)  he  preached 
curate   of    Olney.     In    1758   the    Arch-  at  '  Boslam '  (probably  Burslem). 
bishop  of  York  had  refused   ordination.  '  On  the  29th  he  wrote  a  '  Letter  to  a 
To   this  may  be   added  a  note  by  Rev.  Member '  ( IVorAs,  vol.  xii.  p.  274). 
VOL.   IV  23 


374  John    Wesley  s  Journal  (Apmi76o. 

ship  about  nine,  and  got  under  sail  at  noon,  having  only  eight 
cabin  passengers,  seven  of  whom  were  our  own  company  ;  so  we 
prayed,  and  sung,  and  conversed,  at  our  own  discretion.  But  a 
poor  woman  whom  we  permitted  to  come  into  the  cabin  gave  us 
some  uneasiness.  She  had  been  tapped  for  dropsy  in  the  infirmary 
but  two  days  before.  When  I  spoke  to  her  concerning  her  soul 
she  gave  but  little  answer,  appearing  to  be  serious  and  willing 
to  hear,  but  totally  uninstructed.  She  would  eat  nothing,  but 
willingly  accepted  a  dish  or  two  of  tea  and  two  or  three  glasses 
of  wine.  The  next  morning  she  was  extremely  restless,  con- 
tinually moving  from  place  to  place,  till  the  captain  put  a  bed 
for  her  in  the  forecastle,  on  which  she  lay  down  about  eight 
o'clock.  A  little  after  she  grew  light-headed,  and  began 
shrieking  dreadfully.  This  she  continued  to  do  till  about  noon, 
and  then  died.  At  night,  the  captain  and  all  the  sailors 
being  present,  we  committed  her  body  to  the  deep.  On  Tuesday 
noon,  April  i,  we  landed  safe  at  Dublin.1 

I  never  saw  more  numerous  or  more  serious  congregations 
in  Ireland  than  we  had  all  this  week.  On  Easter  Day,  APRIL  6, 
I  introduced  our  English  custom,  beginning  the  service  at  four 
in  the  morning. 

Mon.  7. — I  began  speaking  severally  to  the  members  of  the 
society,  and  was  well  pleased  to  find  so  great  a  number  of  them 
much  alive  to  God.  One  consequence  of  this  is  that  the  society 
is  larger  than  it  has  been  for  several  years.  And  no  wonder, 
for,  where  the  real  power  of  God  is,  it  naturally  spreads  wider 
and  wider. 

Thur.  10. — I  was  sitting  with  a  friend  when  poor  Mr.  Cook 
came  in.     His  eyes,  his  look,  his  hair  standing — 

Like  quills  upon  the  fretful  porcupine — 2 

his  tattered  gown,  his  whole  person,  as  well  as  his  speech, 
immediately  bewrayed  him  ;  but  he  is  quite  an  original,  and  has 
so  much  vivacity,  with  touches  of  strong  sense,  that  I  do  not 


1  On  April  1,  3,  4,  6,  10,  13,  15,  17,  Make  thy  two  eyes.  like  9t»rs>  start  from 

18,    20,    he    preached    in    Dublin.      In  **  sPh"es> 

'                       r  Thy  knotted  and  combined  locks  to  part, 

April    (day    unknown)    he    preached    in  And   eacn    particuiai.    hair    to    stand    on 

Drurncree.  end, 

1  could  a  tale  untold  whose  lightest  word  L'*e  9ullls  uPon  'ne  lretful  porcupine. 

Would  harrow  up  thy  soul,  freeze  thy  Shakespeare,  Hamltt,  I.  v.  to. 
young  blood, 


I.    EXTERIOR    OF    WHITEFRIAR    STREET    CHAPEL,    DUBLIN. 
2.    ST.    MARY'S    CHURCH,    DUBLIN. 

(By  the  courtesy  of  the  Rev.  C.  H.  Crookshank,  M.  I  i 

375 


April  1760. 


In  Ireland  $77 

wonder  the  gentlemen  of  the  college,  as  he  told  me,  had  given 
him  an  apartment  there.  What  a  noble  fabric  lies  here  in  ruins ! 
What  pity  that,  when  he  first  found  himself  a  sinner,  he  had  not 
one  to  speak  to  that  understood  his  case,  and  could  teach  him 
the  only  method  of  cure  ! 

Sun.  13. — At  three  in  the  afternoon  I  preached  in  the 
Barrack  Square,  another  kind  of  place  than  Ormondtown  Green.1 
No  mob  must  show  their  heads  here,  for  the  soldiers  would  give 
them  no  quarter. 

Tues.  1 5.— I  preached  there  again  2 ;  but  on  Thursday,  it 
being  a  rainy  day,  an  offer  was  made  me  of  the  riding-house — a 
very  large,  commodious  building,  designed  by  Lord  Chesterfield 
for  a  church,  but  never  used  as  such  till  now.  A  troop  of 
soldiers  was  exercising  there  when  I  came  ;  but  this  was  clear 
gains,  for  the  officers  forbade  any  of  them  to  go  away  before 
the  sermon  was  ended. 

Fri.  18. —  I  went  with  Miss  Ffreeman]  to  see  the  French 
prisoners  sent  from  Carrickfergus.  They  were  surprised  at 
hearing  as  good  French  spoke  in  Dublin  as  they  could  have 
heard  in  Paris,  and  still  more  at  being  exhorted  to  heart* 
religion,  to  the  '  faith  that  worketh  by  love.' 3 


1  The  more  usual  name  is  Oxmantown  ment  will  at  last  awake,  and  be  a  little 

Green,  as  elsewhere  in  the  Journal.     It  better      prepared      against      the      next 

is  derived   from   an   early  settlement  of  encounter.'      After    the    raid    described 

the  Danes,  who,  coming  from  the   East  below  (see   under   May   5)   the   French 

of  Great  Britain,  were  called  Eastmen,  or  prisoners  had  been  landed  at  Ramsey  by 

Ostmen,  and  their  town  Ostmantown,  or  Elliott,  thence  brought  over  by  Captain 

Oxmantown.     Mr.  D.   B.  Bradshaw  (in  Bowles,  in  the  Weazle  sloop,  on  March  12. 

W.H.S.  vol.  v.   p.    71)    says,  however,  See  also  below,    May   1.— On  the   18th 

that  '  the  only  trace  of  the  name  Ormond-  Wesley  wrote   from   Dublin  a  letter  to 

town  he  has  been  able  to  discover  is  in  a  Berridge,  which  Tyerman  justly  describes 

map  (arc.  1610)    of  Dublin  where  the  as   that   of  'a  faithful   friend.'     Wesley 

north-western    outskirt    of    the   city    is  says :  '  Of  all  persons  I  ever  knew,  save 

marked  "  Ostman  or  Ormontowne."  '  one,  you  are  the  hardest  to  be  convinced  ' 

-  On  the  16th  he  wrote  to  '  A  Member '  (  Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  233).     Seven  months 

(Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  274).  later     Berridge    wrote   a    reply,    which 

3  In    a    letter    to     Blackwell,    dated  was  published  in  the   W.M.  Mag.   1849, 

Newry,  April  26,  1760  (Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  491-      In  this  reply  he  invites  Wesley 

p.    188),    he   refers   to    Miss    Freeman,  to  call  at  Everton,  and  adds  :   '  You  will 

writes     of    '  an     extremely     prosperous  be  welcome.      My  invitation   is  sincere 

journey,'  and  anticipates  a  full  account  and    friendly.      Accept   of   it.      I    send 

of    the    French    raid   (described    below)  my  love  to  your  brother,  and  to  all  that 

which  he  thinks  will  be  '  of  use  to  the  labour  among  you.' 
whole  kingdom.     Probably  the  Govern- 


3  yS  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Apru  nso. 

Sun.  20. — I  appointed  those  of  the  society  who  desired  to 
renew  their  covenant  with  God,  which  I  had  several  times 
before  explained,  to  meet  me  in  the  evening ;  and,  I  believe,  of 
the  five  hundred  and  twelve  members,  hardly  twelve  were 
wanting. 

Mon.  21. — In  riding  to  Rosmead  I  read  Sir  John  Davis's 
Historical  Relations  concerning  Ireland}  None  who  reads  these 
can  wonder  that,  fruitful  as  it  is,  it  was  always  so  thinly 
inhabited;  for  he  makes  it  plain  that:  (1)  Murder  was  never 
capital  among  the  native  Irish  ;  the  murderer  only  paid  a 
small  fine  to  the  chief  of  his  sept.  (2)  When  the  English 
settled  here,  still  the  Irish  had  no  benefit  of  the  English  laws. 
They  could  not  so  much  as  sue  an  Englishman.  So  the 
English    beat,    plundered,    yea,    murdered    them,    at    pleasure. 

(3)  Hence  arose  continual  wars  between  them,  for  three 
hundred  and  fifty  years  together ;  and  hereby  both  the 
English    and    Irish    natives   were   kept    few,    as    well    as   poor. 

(4)  When  they  were  multiplied  during  a  peace  of  forty  years, 
from  1600  to  1641,  the  general  massacre,  with  the  ensuing 
war,  again  thinned  their  numbers  ;  not  so  few  as  a  million 
of  men,  women,  and  children,  being  destroyed  in  four  years' 
time.  (5)  Great  numbers  have  ever  since,  year  by  year,  left 
the  land  merely  for  want  of  employment.  (6)  The  gentry  are 
continually  driving  away  hundreds,  yea,  thousands,  of  them  that 
remain,  by  throwing  such  quantities  of  arable  land  into  pasture, 
which  leaves  them  neither  business  nor  food.  This  it  is  that 
now  dispeoples  many  parts  of  Ireland,  of  Connaught  in  particular, 
which,  it  is  supposed,  has  scarce  half  the  inhabitants  at  this  day 
which  it  had  fourscore  years  ago. 

Wed.  23. — I  rode  to  Newry,  and  preached  at  seven  in  the 
evening  to  a  numerous  congregation.2 

Sun.  27. — We  had  a  useful  sermon  at  church  ;  but  they  tolc 
me   few   attended    the    prayers   in    the   afternoon  :   however,   I 


'  A  Discovery  of  the  True  Causes  why  and   Attorney-General.     He    was   after- 

Ireland  was  never  entirely  subdued,  by  wards  appointed   Lord   Chief  Justice 

Sir  John  Davis,  or  Davies  (1569-1626),  England,  but  died  before  he  could  ente 

is  still  held  to  be  an  authority  on  the  on  his  duties, 
question.     Sir  John  Davies  was  a  mem-  2  On  April  26  he  wrote  to  Blackwel 

ber  successively  of  the  English  and  Irish  (Works,  vol.  xii.  p.   188).     The  letter  is 

Houses  of  Commons,  and  was  Solicitor-  referred  to  above  (see  p.   377). 


May  1760.1 


/*  Ireland  379 


resolved  to  set  them  the  example,  and  the  church  was  as  full 
as  in  the  forenoon.  Of  what  importance  is  every  step  we  take, 
seeing  so  many  are  ready  to  follow  us ! 

Mon.  28. — I  rode  to  Rathfryland,  seven  Irish  miles  from 
Newry,  a  small  town  built  on  the  top  of  a  mountain,  surrounded 
first  by  a  deep  valley,  and  at  a  small  distance  by  higher  moun- 
tains. The  Presbyterian  minister  had  wrote  to  the  Popish 
priest  to  keep  his  people  from  hearing  ;  but  they  would  not  be 
kept :  Protestants  and  Papists  flocked  together  to  the  meadow 
where  I  preached,  and  sat  on  the  grass,  still  as  night,  while  I 
exhorted  them  to  '  repent,  and  believe  the  gospel.'  The  same 
attention  appeared  in  the  whole  congregation  at  Terryhoogan 
in  the  evening,  where  I  spent  a  comfortable  night  in  the  prophet's 
chamber,  nine  feet  long,  seven  broad,  and  six  high.  The  ceiling) 
floor,  and  walls  were  all  of  the  same  marble,  vulgarly  called 
clay. 

May  1,  Thur. — I  rode  to  Moira.  Soon  after  twelve,  stand- 
ing on  a  tombstone  near  the  church,1  I  called  a  considerable 
number  of  people  to  '  know  God,  and  Jesus  Christ,  whom  He 
hath  sent.'  We  were  just  opposite  to  the  Earl  of  Moira's 
house,2  the  best  finished  of  any  I  have  seen  in  Ireland.  It 
stands  on  a  hill,  with  a  large  avenue  in  front,  bounded  by 
the  church  on  the  opposite  hill.  The  other  three  sides  are 
covered  by  orchards,  gardens,  and  woods,  in  which  are  walks 
of  various  kinds. 

General  Flobert,  who  commanded  the  French  troops  at 
Carrickfergus,  was  just  gone  from  Lord  Moira's.  Major  [-General 
de]  Bragelone  was  now  there,  a  man  of  a  fine  person  and 
extremely  graceful  behaviour.  Both  these  affirmed  that  the 
French  were  all  picked  men  out  of  the  King's  Guards  ;  that  their 


1  The  rector  had  refused  the  church,  Rawdon  in  April  1 750  and  Earl  of  Moira 

but  the  '  Earl  of  Moira,' who  had  asked  in    Dec.     1761.      That    Wesley  should, 

him  to  allow  Mr.  Wesley  to  preach  in  under  this  date,  refer  to  him  as  Earl  is 

the  church,  sent  the  bellman  round   to  due  to  his  habit  of  writing  up  his  Journal 

summon  the  people  to  the  service.     See  from   his  diaries  at  a  later  date.     This 

Crookshank's     Methodism    in     Ireland,  nobleman  married  in  1752  Lady  Elizabeth 

vol.  i.  p.  143.  Hastings,  eldest  daughter  of  the  Countess 

-'  The  Earl  of  Moira  in  the  text  and  of  Huntingdon.  His  residence  here  men- 
Lord  Rawdon  on  the  next  page  (note  1)  tioned  is  in  Co.  Down,  near  Lough  Neagh. 
represent  the  same  person.  Sir  John  Raw-  and  is  not  to  be  confused  with  that  of 
don,  the  fourth  baronet,  was  created  Baron  April  6,  1775,  which  is  at  Dublin. 


380  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [May  1760. 

commission  was  to  land  either  at  Londonderry  or  Carrickfergus, 
while  Monsieur  Conflans  landed  in  the  south  ;  and,  if  they  did 
not  do  this  within  three  months,  to  return  directly  to  France.1 

Fri.  2. —  In  the  evening,  and  morning  and  evening  on 
Saturday,  I  preached  at  Lisburn.  The  people  here  (as  Mr. 
Boston  said)  are  'all  ear'  ;  but  who  can  find  a  way  to  their 
heart  ? 

Sun.  4. — After  preaching  to  a  large  congregation  at  seven, 
I  hastened  to  Comber,  in  order  to  be  at  church  in  time.  As 
soon  as  service  was  ended  I  began,  and  four  in  five  of  the 
people  behaved  well.  About  six  in  the  evening  I  preached  at 
Newtownards,  where  there  is  usually  the  largest  congregation  in 
Ulster.  But  what  avails  '  the  hearing  ear '  without  the  '  under- 
standing heart '  ? 

Mon.  5. — After  preaching  in  the  market-place  at  Belfast, 
to  a  people  who  care  for  none  of  these  things,  we  rode  on,  with 
a  furious  east  wind  right  in  our  face,  to  Carrickfergus,  where 
I  willingly  accepted  of  an  invitation  from  a  merchant  in  the 
town,  Mr.  Cobham,  to  lodge  at  his  house :  the  rather  when  I 
understood  that  Mr.  Cavenac,  the  French  lieutenant-general, 
was  still  there.2  I  now  received  a  very  particular  account  of 
what  had  been  lately  transacted  here.  Mrs.  Cobham  said,  '  My 
daughter  came  running  in,  and  said,  "  Mamma,  there  are  three 
Indiamen  3  come  into  the  bay,  and  I  suppose  my  brothers  are 
come  in  them"  (who  had  been  in  the  East  Indies  for  some 


1  In    a    letter    (now    in    the    British  Chevr.    de    Bragelone,   Major-General.' 

Museum,  reprinted  in  the  Ulster  Journal  The  above  is  the  official  spelling  of  the 

of  Archaeology  for  1904),  dated  March  4,  names,  and  is  here   followed.     General 

1760,  from  Colonel  Sandford,  Command-  'Flaubert'    of  the   1st  edition  is  always 

ing    Officer    at     Belfast,     addressed    to  'Flobert'in  the  official  correspondence. 

Richard  Rigby  at  Dublin  Castle,  is  given  He    stayed    behind    when    Thurot    left 

an  official  list  of  the  prisoners  taken  on  Carrickfergus,  and   does    not   appear  to 

the     capture     of     Thurot's     squadron.  have  been  a  prisoner.     He  was,  in  fact, 

Amongst  these  is  the  name  :  '  Le  Comte  for  a  time  the  guest  of  Lord  Rawdon  at 

de  Skordee,  and  Lieut. -Col.  of  Hussars.'  Moira  House,  Dublin. 

The    list   preserves    the    names   of    the  -  Detained  by  a  wound  in  the  head, 

regiments    to  which    the    prisoners   be-  Mr.  D.  B.  Bradshaw's  illustrated  articles 

longed,    French   Guards,   Swiss  Guards,  in  the  Winter   No.    of  the   Meth.    Rec. 

Burgundy,   Cambis,    Volontaires   Etran-  (1906,  p.  44)  give  all  the  facts  respecting 

gers,  and  Sea  Officers.    Of  the  six  officers  this  raid. 

of  the  French  Guards  the  first  two  names  3  Belle  Isle,  La  Blonde,    Terpsichore, 

are     'Mr.     de     Cavenac,    Lieut. -Coin.,  the  remains  of  a  large  squadron. 


May  1760.)  The   Carvickfergus  Raid  381 

time).  An  hour  after  she  came  in  again  and  cried,  "  O  mamma, 
they  say  they  are  Frenchmen  ;  and  they  are  landing ;  and  their 
guns  glitter  in  the  sun."  '  Mr.  Cavenac  informed  me  that  Mr. 
Thurot  had  received  a  thousand  men  out  of  the  King's  Guards,1 
with  orders  to  land  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  at  the  same  time 
that  Monsieur  Conflans  landed  in  the  south  ;  that  a  storm  drove 
him  up  to  Bergen,  in  Norway,  from  whence  he  could  not  get 
out  till  his  ships  were  much  damaged  and  his  provisions  con- 
sumed, nor  could  he  there  procure  a  supply  at  any  price  ;  that 
another  storm  drove  him  to  sixty-six  degrees  north  latitude  ; 
from  whence  he  did  not  get  back  to  Carrickfergus  Bay  till  all  on 
board  were  almost  famished,  having  only  an  ounce  of  bread  per 
man  daily  2 :  that  they  then  landed  merely  to  procure  provisions. 
I  asked,  '  Is  it  true  that  you  had  a  design  to  burn  the  town  ? ' 
He  cried  out,  '  Jesu,  Maria  !  We  never  had  such  a  thought  ! 
To  burn,  to  destroy,  cannot  enter  into  the  heart  or  head  of  a 
good  man.' 

After  they  had  landed  (Mrs.  Cobham  and  others  informed 
me),  they  divided  into  two  bodies.  One  of  these  marched  up  to 
the  east  gate,  the  other  to  the  north.  Twelve  soldiers  and  a 
corporal  were  there  on  the  wall,  who  fired  upon  them  when 
they  came  near.  Immediately  General  Flobert  fell,  having  his 
leg  broke  by  a  musket-ball.  The  next  in  command,  a  young 
Marquis,  then  led  them  on.  When  the  English  had  fired  four 
rounds,  having  no  more  ammunition,  they  retired,  and  the 
French  entered  the  town,  and  at  the  market-place  met  those 
who  had  come  in  at  the  east  gate.  When  they  had  joined,  they 
marched  up  to  the  castle  (though  the  English  there,  who  were 
a  hundred  and  sixty-two  in  number,  kept  a  constant  fire),  the 
gate  of  which  was  not  barred,3  so  that  the  Marquis  thrust  it 
open  and  went  in.  Just  then  he  was  shot  dead.  Mr.  Cavenac 
immediately  took  his  place,  and  drew  up  his  men  again.     The 


1  Thurot  was  a  successful  smuggler  and  sight  story  of  John  Smith,  of  Cootehill. 

privateer,  whom  the  king  of  France  com-  (Crookshank's    Methodism    in    Ireland, 

missioned  to  raid  the  coasts  he  knew  so  vol.  i.  pp.  140,  141.) 

well.     He  spoke  English,  and  was  known  2  He  sailed  Oct.  15,  1759,  and  reached 

in  London.     His  wife,  who  is  said  to  have  Carrickfergus  Feb.  21,  1760. 

accompanied  him  to  Carrickfergus,  was  3  The     official     account     states    that 

the   daughter    of  a    rich   apothecary   in  battery   by  shot   had    shaken   the   bolts 

Paddington.    See  also  the  strange  second-  loose. 


3 


82  John    Wesley  s  Journal  rMaymo. 


English  '  then  desired  a  parley,  and  articled  to  furnish  them 
with  provisions  in  six  hours.  But  they  could  not  perform  it, 
there  being  little  in  the  town.  On  this  Mr.  Cavenac  sent  for 
Mr.  Cobham,  and  desired  him  to  go  up  to  Belfast  and  procure 
them,  leaving  his  wife  with  the  general"  as  a  hostage  for  his 
return.  But  the  poor  Frenchmen  could  not  stay  for  this.  At 
the  time  prefixed  they  began  to  serve  themselves  with  meat  and 
drink,  having  been  in  such  want  that  they  were  glad  to  eat 
raw  oats  to  sustain  nature.  They  accordingly  took  all  the  food 
they  could  find,  with  some  linen  and  wearing-apparel.  But  they 
neither  hurt  nor  affronted  man,  woman,  or  child,  nor  did  any 
mischief  for  mischief's  sake ;  though  they  were  sufficiently 
provoked,  for  many  of  the  inhabitants  affronted  them  without 
fear  or  wit,  cursed  them  to  their  faces,  and  even  took  up  pokers 
or  other  things  to  strike  them. 

While  Mrs.  Cobham  was  with  the  general,  a  little  plain- 
dressed  man  came  in  to  whom  they  all  showed  a  particular 
respect.  It  struck  into  her  mind,  Is  not  this  Mr.  Thurot  ? 
Which  was  soon  confirmed.  She  said  to  him,  '  Sir,  you  seem 
much  fatigued.  Will  you  step  to  my  house  and  refresh  your- 
self?'  He  readily  accepted  the  offer.  She  prepared  a  little 
veal,  of  which  he  ate  moderately,  and  drank  three  glasses  of 
small  warm  punch  ;  after  which  he  told  her,  '  I  have  not  taken 
any  food  before,  nor  slept,  for  eight-and-forty  hours.'  She 
asked,  '  Sir,  will  you  please  to  take  a  little  rest  now  ?  '  Observing 
he  started,  she  added,  '  I  will  answer,  life  for  life,  that  none  shall 
hurt  you  under  my  roof.'  He  said,  '  Madam,  I  believe  you  :  I 
accept  the  offer.'  He  desired  that  two  of  his  men  might  lie  on 
the  floor  by  the  bedside,  slept  about  six  hours,  and  then, 
returning  her  many  thanks,  went  aboard  his  ship. 

Five  days  he  was  kept  in  the  bay  by  contrary  winds.  When 
he  sailed  2  he  took  the  Mayor  of  Carrickfergus  3  and  another 
gentleman  as  hostages  for  the  delivery  of  the  French  prisoners. 
The  next  morning,  as  he  was  walking  the  deck,  he  frequently 
started,  without  any  visible  cause,  stepped  short,  and  said,  '  I  shall 
die  to-day.'     A  while  after  he  said  to  one  of  the  English,  '  Sir,  I 


1  Under  Col.  John  Jennings,  of  the  '  Mr.      Willoughby,      Chaplain      and 

62nd  Regiment.  Deputy  Mayor,  and  Mr.  George  Spaight 

:  Feb.  26.  were  the  hostages. 


May  i76o.i  A   Brave   Adventurer  383 

see  three  ships  '  :  pray  take  my  glass,  and  tell  me  freely  what 
you  think  they  are.'  He  looked  some  time  and  said,  '  I  think 
they  are  English  :  and  I  guess  they  are  about  forty-gun  ships.' 
He  called  his  officers  and  said,  '  Our  ships  are  too  foul  to  fight 
at  a  distance  :  we  must  board  them.'  Accordingly,  when  they 
came  up,  after  a  short  fire,  he  ran  up  close  to  Captain  Elliott ; 
and  Captain  Scordee,  with  his  four-and-twenty  hussars,  imme- 
diately leaped  on  board.  Almost  instantly  nine  of  them  lay 
dead  ;  on  which  he  was  so  enraged,  that  he  rushed  forward  with 
his  sabre  among  the  English,  who  seized  his  arms  and  carried 
him  away.  Meantime,  his  men  that  were  left  retired  into  their 
own  ship.  Thurot,  seeing  this,  cried  out,  '  Why  should  we  throw 
away  the  lives  of  the  poor  men  ?  '  and  ordered  to  strike  the 
colours.  A  man  going  up  to  do  this  was  shot  dead  ;  as  was 
likewise  a  second  ;  and,  before  a  third  could  do  it,  Mr.  Thurot 
himself  was  shot  through  the  heart.2  So  fell  a  brave  man  ; 
giving  yet  another  proof  that  'there  is  no  counsel  or  strength 
against  the  Lord.' 


'  Aeolus,  Capt.  Elliott ;  Pallas,  Capt.  the     brave     adventurer     were     warmly 

Clements  ;  Brilliant,  Capt.  Logic  acknowledged  by  his  enemies.      He  was 

:  Lord  Mahon  says  :   ■  Throughout  the  only  about  twenty-nine  at  the  time  of  his 

expedition  the  honour  and  humanity  of  death.' 


NOTE. 

During  this  period  Wesley  was  harassed  by  scurrilous  attacks, 
sometimes  from  those  who  were,  or  had  been,  of  his  own  inner  circle, 
and  constantly  by  clergy  and  dignitaries  of  the  English  Church.  His 
preachers,  who  were  the  strength  of  the  new  movement,  were  also  its 
weakness.  A  few  fell  into  sin.  A  list  of  those  who,  for  this  reason,  had 
to  be  '  laid  aside  '  is  preserved  among  the  papers  of  Charles  Wesley, 
whose  shorthand  notes  reveal  the  shameful  details.  John  Wesley, 
knowing  the  temptations  of  their  calling,  hoped  against  hope  for  the 
restoration  of  his  fallen  preachers.  Others  of  their  number  were  be- 
witched by  forms  of  error  such  as  so  frequently  appear  in  times  of 
intense  religious  excitement.  Wesley  dreaded  error,  and  fought  it 
fiercely,  knowing  that  it  usually  ended  in  Antinomian  immoralities. 

As  the  century  advanced  Wesley  became  a  lonely  knight-errant. 
Comrades  of  earlier  years  fell  away  from  him.  Old  friends  among  the 
Anglican  clergy  and  laity  were  shaken  in  their  loyalty.     Even  Grim- 


384  John   Wesley  s  Journal  rMayi76o. 

shaw,  Venn,  Madan,  Berridge,  and  Lady  Huntingdon  herself  were 
troubled  by  grave  misgivings.  '  Christian  Perfection,'  as  taught  not 
so  much  by  Wesley  as  by  some  of  his  preachers,  became  a  rock  of 
offence ;  for  surely,  they  argued,  it  was  without  warrant  in  either  reason 
or  Holy  Scripture.  Charles  Wesley,  who  since,  and  partly  because  of, 
his  own  mishandling  of  the  Bennet-Murray  episode  had  never  been 
quite  the  same,  grew  less  and  less  sympathetic  and  more  and  more 
critical,  especially  with  regard  to  the  preachers.  Many  onlookers  began 
to  hope,  or  fear,  that  Methodism,  if  it  did  not  perish  in  tempests 
of  obloquy,  would  survive  only  as  a  discredited  and  slowly  dwindling 
sect. 

It  was  in  this  time  of  peril  and  sorrow  that  Wesley's  views  on 
Christian  doctrine  cleared  themselves  and  won  that  just  balance  which, 
accepted  by  his  followers  and  their  children,  has  suffered  little  if  any 
disturbance  to  the  present  day. 

Coincidently,  the  disciplinary  system  of  Methodism  began  to  take 
shape.  Certain  of  the  preachers — men,  in  some  instances,  of  extra- 
ordinary popularity,  and  all  of  them  personally  dear  to  Wesley — were 
among  the  first  to  feel  the  lash,  the  curb,  the  spur.  Those  who  desire 
to  understand  the  immeasurable  influence  wielded  by  Methodism  in 
the  second  half  of  the  eighteenth  century  should  study  the  Doctrinal 
and  Disciplinary  Minutes. 

It  was  during  the  whole  period  covered  by  the  present  volume  and 
the  following  one  that  Methodism,  led  by  Wesley  alone,  silently  created 
forces  in  English  social  life  destined,  before  the  century  closed,  to  save 
the  nation  from  irretrievable  ruin.  Modern  historians  of  various 
schools  of  thought  have  clearly  seen  this.  Oxford,  in  its  History  of 
England  during  the  Hanoverian  Period,  like  Cambridge  in  its  Modern 
History,  has  emphasized  the  '  epoch-making '  character  of  '  Wesley's 
movement.'  In  the  Prefatory  Note  which  introduces  the  Twelfth  Part 
of  the  Journal  (see  p.  386),  a  few  sentences  from  the  sixth  volume  of 
Ur.  Oman's  History  of  England  may  suffice  to  illustrate  the  nature 
and  extent  of  this  emphatic   testimony. 


PART   THE   TWELFTH 
THE    JOURNAL 

FROM    MAY    6,    1760,   TO   OCTOBER    28,    1762 


38s 


'  The  Wesleyan  Church  was  the  creation  of  fohn 
Wesley.  .  .  .  The  persona/  ascendancy  noticeable  at  Oxford 
remained  unshaken  till  his  death  ;  and  it  made  him  the 
self-constituted  and  accepted  autocrat  of  a  mighty  spiritual 
organization.  Great  as  a  preacher,  he  was  greater  as  an 
organizer  and  leader  of  men.  His  gifts  for  command 
stamp  him  as  probably  the  most  striking  of  eighteenth- 
century  figures,  and  leave  him  in  the  select  division  of  the 
first  class  of  the  great  leaders  of  all  ages. . 

'  Methodism  and  the  French  Revolution  are  the  two 
most  tremendous  phenomena  of  the  century.  Wesley  swept 
the  dead  air  with  an  irresistible  cleansing  ozone.  To 
thousands  of  men  and  women  his  preaching  and  gospel 
revealed  a  new  heaven  and  a  new  earth  ;  it  brought 
religion  into  soulless  lives  and  reconstituted  it  as  a 
comforter,  an  inspiration,  and  a  Judge.  No  one  was  too 
poor,  too  humble,  too  degraded  to  be  bom  again.  .  .  . 
Aloof  alike  from  politics  and  the  speculations  of  the  Schools. 
Wesley  wrestled  with  the  evils  of  his  day  and  proclaimed 
the  infinite  power  of  a  Christian  faith  based  on  personal 
conviction,  eternally  rene?ved  from  within,  to  battle  with 
sin,  misery,  and  vice  in  all  its  forms.  The  social  service 
that  he  accomplished  was  not  the  least  of  his  triumphs. 
For  Methodism  .  .  .  diverted  into  religious  channels  a 
vast  volume  of  social  disco7itent  which  in  France  swelled 
the  tides  that  submerged  Church  and  State. 

'  At  a  titne  when  Bishop  Butler  asserted  that  Chris- 
tianily  was  "  wearing  out  of  the  minds  of  men,"  Wesley 
kept  the  English  people  Christian,  and  shamed  the  Church 
that  closed  her  pulpits  to  him  into  imitating  his  spirit,  if 
not  his  methods.  No  historian  will  venture  to  stake  out 
the  limits  of  movements  whose  most  vivifying  force  works 
in  the  silence  of  the  religious  life  of  masses  of  men  and 
women.  But  it  is  certain  that  into  the  moral  fibre  of  the 
English  people,  even  in  the  classes  most  anxious  to  repudiate 
the  debt,  were  woven  new  strands  by  the  abiding  influence 
of  Methodism? — 'A  History  of  England,'  in  seven 
volumes.  Edited  by  Charles  Oman.  Vol.  vi.  '  England 
Under  the  Hanoverians.'  By  C.  Grant  Robertson,  Fel- 
low of  All  Souls  College,  Oxford,  Tutor  in  History  to 
Magdalen  College. 


TO   THE    READER 

I  am  sensible  there  are  many  particulars  in  the  ensuing  Journal 
which  some  serious  persons  will  not  believe,  and  which  others  will  turn 
to  ridicule.  But  this  I  cannot  help,  unless  by  concealing  those  things 
which  I  believe  it  my  bounden  duty  to  declare.  I  cannot  do  otherwise 
while  I  am  persuaded  that  this  was  a  real  work  of  God  :  and  that  He 
hath  so  wrought  this,  and  all  '  His  marvellous  works,  that  they  ought  to 
be  had  in  remembrance.'  I  have  only  to  desire  that  those  who 
think  differently  from  me  will  bear  with  me,  as  I  do  with  them ;  and 
that  those  who  think,  with  me,  that  this  was  the  most  glorious  work 
of  God  which  has  ever  been  wrought  in  our  memory,  may  be 
encouraged  to  expect  to  be  themselves  partakers  of  all  the  great  and 
precious  promises;  and  that  without  delay,  seeing  'Now  is  the 
accepted  time  !    Now  is  the  day  of  salvation  ! ' 

London,  Jan.  31,  1767. 


387 


THE   JOURNAL 

From  May  6,   1760,  to  October  28,   1762 

1760.  May  6,  Tues. —  I  had  much  conversation  (at  Carrick- 
fergus)  with  Monsieur  Cavenac,  the  French  general,  not  on  the 
circumstances,  but  the  essence  of  religion.  He  seemed  to  startle 
at  nothing  ;  but  said  more  than  once,  and  with  emotion,  '  Why, 
this  is  my  religion  :  there  is  no  true  religion  besides  it !  ' 

Wed.  7. — I  rode  to  Lame.1  The  rain,  which  had  continued 
with  little  intermission  for  several  days,  stopped  this  afternoon, 
so  that  I  had  a  very  large  as  well  as  serious  congregation  ;  and 
I  spoke  to  them  with  the  utmost  plainness,  but  I  could  not 
find  the  way  to  their  hearts. 

Thur.  8. — We  rode  over  the  mountains  to  Ballymena,  and 
had  just  passed  through  the  town  when  a  man  came  running 
out  of  the  field,  called  me  by  my  name,  and  pressed  me  much 
to  preach  there.  But  I  could  not  stay,  having  appointed  one 
to  meet  me  at  Portglenone ;  which  he  accordingly  did,  and 
brought  me  to  Mr.  Burrowes,  near  Garvagh. 

Fri.  9. — A  little  rest  was  acceptable. 

Sat.  10. — I  preached,  morning  and  evening,  in  Mr.  Burrowes's 
house,  to  a  well-behaved  congregation,  though  of  various 
denominations:  Churchmen,  Papists,  Presbyterians, Cameronians. 
One  Seceder  likewise  ventured  in  ;  but  the  moment  he  heard 
'  Our  Father,  which  art  in  heaven,'  he  ran  away  with  all 
speed. 

Sun.   11. — We  had  such  a   congregation    in  the  church  as 


1  Where  he  was  the  guest  of  Mr.  and  tion  of  the  French  raid,  and  describes 
Mrs.  John  Lee.  In  their  house  he  M.  Cavenac,  '  who  speaks  Latin  pretty 
finished  the  letter  to  Blackwell  begun  at  readily,' as  'not  only  a  very  sensible  man, 
Carrickfergus,  for  which  see  W.A1.  Mag.  but  thoroughly  instructed,  even  in  heart- 
1848,  p.  779.     It  gives  a  vivid  descrip-       religion.' 

388 


May  1760] 


In  Ireland  389 


perhaps  had  not  been  there  in  this  century  ;  and  I  believe 
God  reached  some  of  their  hearts  :  several  were  in  tears.  I 
spoke  extremely  plain  ;  especially  to  those  who  were  full  of 
their  own  wisdom  and  righteousness. 

Mon.  12. — Returning  through  Ballymena,  I  preached  in  the 
market-house  to  a  large  concourse  of  people  ;  and  God  was  there 
of  a  truth.  I  have  found  no  such  spirit  in  any  congregation 
since  I  left  Dublin.  Thence  I  rode  to  Moira,  and  preached 
to  a  very  civil  congregation  ;  but  there  is  no  life  in  them. 

Tues.  13. — My  Irish  horse  was  thoroughly  tired.  However, 
with  much  difficulty,  partly  riding,  and  partly  walking,  about 
eight  in  the  evening  I  reached  Cootehill.  I  preached  in  the 
house  now,  and  at  five  in  the  morning  ;  but  at  eleven  in 
the  market-house,  where  I  delivered  my  own  soul  to  most  of  the 
Protestants  in  the  town. 

Having  procured  a  fresh  horse,  I  rode  on  to  Belturbet,  a 
town  in  which  there  is  neither  Papist  nor  Presbyterian  ;  but, 
to  supply  that  defect,  there  are  Sabbath-breakers,  drunkards, 
and  common  swearers  in  abundance. 

Thur.  15.— We  rode  through  a  delightful  country  to 
Swanlinbar,  famed  for  its  mineral  waters.1  Soon  after  my  new 
horse  began  to  tire,  so  that  it  was  with  much  difficulty  I  got  to 
Sligo.2 

Fri.  16. — I  walked  round  the  ruins  of  the  abbey,  formerly 
one  of  the  largest  in  the  kingdom.  The  walls  of  it  are  standing, 
and  three  sides  of  the  cloisters  are  entire  ;  but  you  can  scarce 
tread,  either  within  or  without,  unless  you  will  step  upon  skulls 
or  human  bones,  which  are  everywhere  scattered  up  and  down, 
as  dung  upon  the  earth.  Surely  no  other  nation,  Christian  or 
heathen,  would  endure  this  ! 3 

In  the  evening  the  congregation  was  a  little  disturbed  by 


'  Famed  also  for  its  ironworks  founded  a     terrible  massacre.     Mr.  John  Ander- 

by  Mr.  Swan,  Mr.  Ling,  and  Mr.  Barr —  son,  of  Willowbrook,  now  attached  him- 

hence  the  name.     See  Journal  of  Royal  self  to  Methodism  and  His  descendants,  to 

Society  of  Antiquaries  for  Ireland.  the  fifth  generation,  are  connected  with 

'•'  At  Sligo  the  increasing  congregation,  the   church    of  their   fathers ;    also    the 

on    Wesley's   advice,    procured    a    large  Knox  family,  but  these  did  not  continue  in 

apartment  in  a  feudal  castle  which  once  connexion  with  Methodism, 
belonged  to  the  royal  family  of  O'Connor,  *  The  bones  are  now  buried,  and  the 

and  with  which  tradition  has  connected  abbey  is  well  cared  for. 


39°  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [May  mo. 

two  or  three  giddy  officers.  I  spoke  to  them,  and  they  stopped  ; 
but  they  soon  recovered  their  spirits,  and  behaved  as  they  used 
to  do  at  church. 

Sun.  1 8. — I  preached  at  nine  to  a  large  congregation,  who 
all  seemed  to  hear  with  understanding.  At  five  in  the  evening 
they  were  not  less  attentive,  though  abundantly  more  numerous.1 
On  Monday  we  met,  for  the  last  time,  between  four  and  five. 
Many  were  deeply  affected,  and  all  received  the  word  'with  all 
readiness  of  mind.'  But  which  of  these  will  '  bring  forth  fruit 
with  patience  '  ?     God  only  knoweth. 

Mon.  19. — We  rode  to  Castlebar,  where  I  preached  in  the 
evening.  I  was  particularly  concerned  for  the  poor  backsliders. 
It  seemed  as  if  most  of  us  said  in  our  hearts,  '  If  they  have  a 
mind  to  go  to  hell,  let  them  go.'  Not  so  ;  rather  let  us  pluck 
the  '  brands,'  willing  or  unwilling,  'out  of  the  burning.' 

Thur,  22. — I  rode  to  Newport,  and  preached  at  seven  in  the 
evening.  I  suppose  all  the  Protestants  in  the  town  were 
present,  and  many  of  the  Papists,  notwithstanding  the  prohibition 
and  bitter  curses  of  their  priests.  So  has  God  spread  the  line  from 
sea  to  sea,  from  Dublin  on  the  east  to  this  place  on  the  western 
ocean. 

Sun.  25  (being  Whit  Sunday). — Mr.  Ellison2  desired  me 
to  assist  him  at  the  Lord's  Supper. 

Tues.  27. — There  was  a  remarkable  trial  here.  A  Swedish 
ship,  being  leaky,  put  into  one  of  our  harbours.  The  Irish, 
according  to  custom,  ran  to  plunder  her.  A  neighbouring 
gentleman  hindered  them,  and,  for  so  doing,  demanded  a  fourth 
part  of  the  cargo  :  and  this,  they  said,  the  law  allows !  But 
where,  meantime,  is  the  law  of  God  ? 

To  hear  this  cause  all  the  gentlemen  of  the  county  were 
come  to  Castlebar.  It  was  to  be  heard  in  the  court-house, 
where  I  preached  ;  so  they  met  an  hour  sooner,  and  heard  the 
sermon  first.  Who  knows  but  even  some  of  these  may  be  found 
of  Him  they  sought  not? 

Wed.  28. — I   rode  to   Hollymount,'   and   the   next  day   to 


1  On   Sunday  the   18th  he  wrote  to           5  He  would  doubtless   have  gone   to 

Lord      Rawdon     {W.M.  Mag.      1864,       Loughrea,   but   for   the   absence  of  the 

p.  553).  rector,  the  Hon.  and  Rev.  Walter  Shirley, 

-  Rector  of  Castlebar.  who  was  then  in  England  in  connexion 


June  1760.]  /*  Ireland  391 


Aughrim,  where  were  a  people  alive  to  God.  I  told  them 
plainly  what  things  they  wanted  still  ;  and  surely  God  will 
supply  all  their  wants. 

JUNE  i  (being  Trinity  Sunday). — I  preached  about  nine  in 
the  market-house  at  Athlone,  on  '  There  are  three  that  bear 
record  in  heaven  .  .  .  and  these  three  are  one.'  Afterwards,  at 
the  minister's  desire,  I  read  prayers  in  the  church,  and  in  the 
evening  preached  on  the  Connaught  side  of  the  river,  on  '  Ye 
must  be  born  again.'  Both  Papists  and  Protestants  attended  ; 
and  some  seemed  cut  to  the  heart. 

Tues.  3. — I  met  the  classes,  and  was  agreeably  surprised  to 
find  that  bitterness  against  the  Church,  with  which  many  were 
infected  when  I  was  here  before,  was  now  entirely  over.  Yet 
the  deadness  which  it  had  occasioned  remained,  and  I  doubt  it 
will  not  soon  be  removed.1 

Fri.  6. — I  preached  in  the  evening  at  Ahascragh,  where  the 
bulk  of  the  congregation  were  Papists.  Yet  the  decency  of 
their  behaviour  was  such  as  might  have  made  many  Protestants 
ashamed. 

Sun.  8. — I  rode  over  to  Aughrim  again.  Understanding  the 
rector  had  none  to  assist  in  the  service,  I  offered  to  read  prayers 
for  him  ;  which  he  willingly  accepted.  Immediately  after  the 
church  service,  I  preached  to  a  numerous  congregation,  and 
returned  to  Athlone  soon  enough  to  speak  once  more  to  a  large 
concourse  of  all  ranks  and  religions.  But  great  part  of  them 
were  as  bullocks  unaccustomed  to  the  yoke,  neither  taught  of 
God  nor  man. 

Mon.  9. — About  one  I  preached  at  Abbeyderg,2  and  then 
rode  on  to  Longford.  The  town  was  so  thronged,  by  reason  of 
the  approaching  fair,  that  we  had  much  ado  to  pass.  But  this 
increased  the  evening  congregation  much  ;  among  whom  was 
Dr.  Hort,  then  rector  of  the  parish,  a  learned,  sensible,  pious 
man,  and  a  pattern  both  for  clergy  and  laity. 

Tues.   10. — I   rode   to  Drummersnave,  a  village  delightfully 


with  the  execution  of  his  brother,   Lord  For  Lord    Ferrers,  see   below,    p.   393. 

Ferrers.      His    letter    (dated    May    27,  '  On  Tuesday  the  3rd  he  preached  at 

1760)   regretting   his  own   absence   and  Minulla. 

offering   the  use  of  his  church,   Wesley  "  In  the  early  morning  he  preached  at 

published  in  Arm.  Mag.   1797,   p.  459.  Athlone. 

VOL.    IV  24 


39 2  John    Wesley  s  Jotirnal  [June  mo. 

situated.  Almost  the  whole  town,  Protestants  and  Papists, 
were  present  at  the  sermon  in  the  evening  ;  and  a  great  part  of 
them  in  the  morning.  But  oh,  how  few  of  them  will  bear  fruit 
to  perfection  ! 

At  noon  William  Ley,  James  Glassbrook,  and  I  rode  to 
Carrick-upon-Shannon.1  In  less  than  an  hour,  an  Esquire  and 
Justice  of  the  Peace  came  down  with  a  drum,  and  what  mob  he 
could  gather.  I  went  into  the  garden  with  the  congregation, 
while  he  was  making  a  speech  to  his  followers  in  the  street.  He 
then  attacked  William  Ley  (who  stood  at  the  door),  being 
armed  with  an  halbert  and  long  sword,  and  ran  at  him  with  the 
halbert ;  but,  missing  his  thrust,  he  then  struck  at  him,  and 
broke  it  short  upon  his  wrist.  Having  made  his  way  through 
the  house  to  the  other  door,  he  was  at  a  full  stop.  James 
Glassbrook  held  it  fast  on  the  other  side.  While  he  was 
endeavouring  to  force  it  open  one  told  him  I  was  preaching  in 
the  garden.  On  this  he  quitted  the  door  in  haste,  ran  round 
the  house,  and,  with  part  of  his  retinue,  climbed  over  the  wall  into 
the  garden,  and,  with  a  whole  volley  of  oaths  and  curses,  declared, 
'  You  shall  not  preach  here  to-day.'  I  told  him,  'Sir,  I  do  not 
intend  it ;  for  I  have  preached  already.'  This  made  him  ready 
to  tear  the  ground.  Finding  he  was  not  to  be  reasoned  with,  I 
went  into  the  house.  Soon  after  he  revenged  himself  on 
James  Glassbrook  (by  breaking  the  truncheon  of  his  halbert 
on  his  arm),  and  on  my  hat,  which  he  beat  and  kicked  most 
valiantly  ;  but  a  gentleman  rescued  it  out  of  his  hands,  and  we 
rode  quietly  out  of  the  town. 

After  preaching  to  several  of  the  intermediate  societies2  in 
the  way,  on  Saturday  the  14th  I  came  to  Tyrrell's  Pass,  and 
found  several  of  our  friends  who  were  come  from  various  parts. 

Sun.  15. —  I  preached  at  eight,  and  at  twelve  (there  being 
no  service  at  the  church).  A  heap  of  fine,  gay  people  came 
in  their  post-chaises  to  the  evening  preaching.  I  spoke  very 
plain,  but  the  words  seemed  to  fly  over  them  :  '  Gallio  cared  for 
none  of  these  things.' 

Mon.    16. — I    preached   in  the  evening  in   the   long,  shady 


1  The  assize  town  of  Leitrim.  through  Drummersnave,  Longford,  Edge- 

'-' In  riding  from  Carrick-upon-Shannon       worthstown,  and  Mullingar,  in   each    of 
to  Tyrrell's  Pass,  he  would  probably  pass       which  Methodism  already  existed. 


June  1760-i 


In  Ireland  393 


walk  at  Edendcrry,  to  such  a  congregation  as  had  not  been 
seen  there  for  many  years.1  And  God  gave  an  edge  to  His 
word,  both  this  evening  and  the  next  morning.  He  can  work, 
even  among  these  dry  bones. 

Wed.  18. — I  designed  to  preach  in  the  market-house  at 
Portarlington  ;  but  it  was  pre-engaged  for  a  ball.  So  I  preached, 
and  with  much  comfort,  in  our  own  room  ;  as  also  at  five  in  the 
morning.  I  preached  at  ten,  for  the  sake  of  the  gentry.  But 
it  was  too  early,  they  could  not  rise  so  soon. 

In  the  afternoon  I  rode  to  Mountmellick.  The  rain  was 
suspended  in  the  evening,  while  I  exhorted  a  large  congregation 
to  '  walk  in  the  old  paths.1  Many  Papists  appeared  to  be  quite 
astonished  ;  some  of  them  were  almost  persuaded  to  walk  therein. 
The  next  evening  I  preached  in  the  market-place,  for  the  sake 
of  the  rich,  who  could  hear  there  without  impeachment  to  their 
honour.  And  some  were  deeply  affected.  Surely  the  thorns 
will  not  choke  all  the  good  seed  ! 

Sat.  21.2 — The  congregation  at  Tullamore  was  near  as  large 
as  at  Mountmellick.  At  eight  in  the  morning,  Sunday  the  22nd, 
it  was  much  increased,  but  much  more  at  one.  And  I  have 
reason  to  believe  that  God  at  this  time  touched  several  careless 
hearts.  I  rode  from  thence  to  Coolalough,  and  found  a  congre- 
gation gathered  from  twenty  miles  round.  It  rained  when  I 
began  to  preach  ;  but  none  offered  to  go  away.  And  God  did 
indeed  '  send  a  gracious  rain  upon  His  inheritance,'  and  com- 
forted the  souls  of  His  servants. 


1  And  again  on  the  17th  at  Edenderry.  the  Life  of  C.  of  Huntingdon.     Charles 

■  On  Sat.  the  21st    he   wrote   to  his  Wesley    sends   to    his   wife   a    pathetic 

wife,    as   we    learn    from  the    letter   to  account  of  the  efforts  he  made  to  console 

Charles   on  the  23rd   ( Works,   vol.    xii.  Lady  Huntingdon,  and  the  earl's  sister 

p.  119).     'Where  and  how  is  my  wife  ?  Miss  Shirley,    and  his  brother,   Walter 

I  wrote   to    her  Saturday  last.'      From  Shirley,   rector   of    Loughrea.      Charles 

Charles    Wesley's    letters   to    his    wife,  Wesley  was  present  at  the  earl's  trial  by 

published  at  the  end  of  his  Journal,  we  his  peers  in  Westminster  Hall.      These 

learn  that  at  this  time  he  was  ill,  suffer-  letters,  it  should  be  noted,  like  most  of 

ing  apparently,  as  were  so  many  in  his  C.    Wesley's    letters,    are    insufficiently 

circle  of  London  friends,   from  the  re-  dated,  and  it  is  sometimes  difficult  to  fit 

action   after  the  trial  and  execution  on  them  into  their  proper  places.     But  they 

May    5,    1759,   of    Lady    Huntingdon's  are  of  great  importance,  enabling  us  to 

cousin,  Earl   Ferrers,  who  had  shot  his  trace  the  story  of  his  work  in  London 

land  steward  in  a  '  tumultuous  passion.'  and  Bristol  after  1756,  when  his  Journal 

The  circumstances  are  fully  described  in  closes. 


394  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [June  mo. 

Mon.  23. — Being  the  Quarterly  Meeting,1  the  stewards  from 
all  the  country  societies  were  present — a  company  of  settled, 
sensible  men.  Nothing  is  wanting  in  this  kingdom  but  zealous, 
active  preachers,  tenacious  of  order  and  exact  discipline. 

Tues.  24. — I  took  horse  early,  and  at  ten  preached  at 
Cloghan,  about  twenty-four  miles  from  Coolalough.  We  after- 
wards rode  through  Longford  ;  but  did  not  stop,  as  the  day 
was  cool  and  pleasant.  About  two  we  were  unawares  encom- 
passed with  a  multitude  of  Papists,  coming  out  of  their  mass- 
house.  One  of  them,  knowing  me,  soon  alarmed  the  rest,  who 
set  up  a  hideous  roar,  and  drew  up  in  battle-array  ;  but  we 
galloped  through  them,  and  went  on  to  Drummersnave,  where  1 
preached  in  the  evening,  and  the  next  day,  Wednesday  the  25th, 
rode  on  to  Sligo. 

Never  did  I  see  a  fairer  prospect  of  good  here.  But  blossoms 
are  not  fruit.  As  large,  if  not  a  larger  congregation  than  before, 
was  at  the  market-place  in  the  evening.  I  was  exceeding  weary, 
having  rode  an  extremely  dull  horse  ;  but  I  soon  forgot  my 
weariness,  seeing  so  many,  young  and  old,  rich  and  poor, 
receiving  the  word  with  all  gladness. 

Thur.  26. — I  preached  at  five  in  a  large,  commodious  room 
which  has  been  procured  since  I  was  here  last.  I  breakfasted 
at  Mr.  [John]  A[nderson]'s,  and  dined  at  Mr.  K[nox]'s  ;  but 
two  such  families  I  have  seldom  seen.  They  had  feared  God 
for  many  years,  and  served  Him  in  the  best  manner  they  knew. 
Nothing  was  wanting  but  that  they  should  hear  the  '  more 
excellent  way,'  which  they  then  embraced  with  all  their  heart. 

Fri.    2"]} — Our    morning   congregation    was   doubled.       Mr. 

D did  not  fail   to  be  there,  though  it  seemed  strange  to 

him  at  first,  when  mention  was  made  of  preaching  at  five  in 
the  morning.  In  the  evening  we  had  a  still  larger  congregation, 
and  I  believe  God  applied  His  word.  Some  trembled,  others 
wept.    Surely  some  of  these  shall  know  there  is  '  balm  in  Gilead.' 


1  The    Quarterly   Meeting    has    been  Samuel    Handy    (see     above,     p.      39) 

much  enlarged  in  constitution  and  func-  showed  hospitality  to  the  stewards,  find- 

tions  since  Wesley's  day.     At  this  date  ing  accommodation    for  them    and  their 

it   consisted  of  stewards   only.     Wesley  horses. 

held  it  in  this  country  place  for  all  the  -  On  Friday  the  27th  he  wrote  to  'A 

societies    round    about,    rather   than   in  Member'  on  growth,  full  salvation,  and 

one  of  the  neighbouring  towns,  because  private  prayer  (  Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  275)- 


June  1760.)  In  Ireland  395 

Sat.  28. — At  five  the  congregation  was  larger  than  ever  it 
had   been  at   that  hour.     After  breakfast    I   rode  out  with  Mr. 

K[nox]  and  Mr.  D ,  who,  hearing  I  was  ill-mounted,  desired 

me  to  make  use  of  one  of  his  horses  during  my  stay  in 
Ireland. 

In  the  evening  (it  being  market-day,  so  that  the  market- 
house  was  full  of  people)  I  wrote  a  line  to  the  colonel,  who 
readily  gave  me  the  liberty  of  preaching  in  the  barrack-yard. 
He  likewise  came  to  hear  himself,  as  did  several  of  the  officers. 
It  was  a  solemn  conclusion  of  the  happiest  birthday  which  I 
have  known  for  many  years. 

Sun.  29. — We  had  a  solemn  meeting  of  the  society  at  five. 
At  eight  I  preached  again  in  the  barrack-yard  ;  and  I  did  not 
observe  a  trifler  there.  They  all  seemed  to  hear  as  for  life. 
To-day  I  saw  an  odd  instance  of  the  force  of  example  :  when 
we  were  at  church  in  the  morning,  scarce  any  one  either  sung 
or  stood  at  the  Psalms  :  so  that  I  was  almost  alone  therein. 
But  in  the  afternoon  almost  every  one  stood  up  ;  and  most  of 
them  sung,  or  endeavoured  so  to  do.  After  service  I  went 
directly  to  the  market-house,  and  enforced  those  solemn  words, 
'  What  doth  the  Lord  thy  God  require  of  thee,  but  to  do  justly, 
and  to  love  mercy,  and  to  walk  humbly  with  thy  God  ? ' 

Mr.  D '  had  left  us  at  six  in  the  morning,  in  order  to 

serve  his  cure  ;  but  about  ten  at  night  he  came  back,  and  was 
with  me  soon  after  four,  importuning  me  to  stay  another  day ; 
but  as  my  journeys  were  fixed,  I  could  not  do  that  without 
disappointing  several  congregations.  Now  was  the  general  call 
for  the  town  of  Sligo.  And  many  did  '  receive  the  word  with 
joy  ' ;  but  the  greatest  part  had  '  no  root  in  themselves.'  What 
fruit,  then,  could  be  expected  from  them  ? 

Mon.  30. — I  have  rarely  seen  so  heavy  rain  in  Europe  as 
we  had  in  the  way  to  Tobercurry.  I  was  quickly  wet  to  my 
toes'  end  ;  but,  the  day  clearing,  I  was  dry  again  in  a  few  hours. 
We  had  a  very  large  congregation  at  Castlebar  in  the  evening  ; 
and  many  seemed  almost  persuaded  to  be  Christians.  Oh  what 
does  it  avail  almost  to  hit  the  mark  ?  Almost  to  escape  the 
damnation  of  hell  ? 


1  Rev.  Mr.  D of  Sligo  (named  also  on  Friday  the  27th).     He  has  not  yet  been 

identified. 


396  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [juiymo. 

July  i,  Tues. — We  took  horse  about  four,  and  it  was  well 
we  did  ;  for  our  seven-and-thirty  Irish  miles,  so  called,  were 
little  less  than  seventy  English.  I  preached  at  a  friend's  house  ' 
soon  after  three  ;  and  then,  procuring  a  fresh  horse,  about  the 
size  of  a  jackass,  I  rode  on,  with  more  ease  than  state,  to 
Aughrim. 

Wed.  2. — We  rode  on  to  Eyrecourt,2  where  many  threatened 
great  things ;  but  all  vanished  into  air.  I  preached  at  ten  in 
the  court-house  ;  Col.  Eyre  was  there,  and  several  other  persons 
of  fashion.  In  the  evening  I  preached  at  Birr,3  with  more 
satisfaction  than  for  several  years,  finding  many  more  alive 
to  God  than  ever,  and  provoking  one  another  to  love  and  to 
good  works.  I  had  purposed  to  set  out  early  in  the  morning  ; 
but  their  love  constrained  me  to  stay  a  day  longer.  So  I  had 
leisure  to  complete  the  account  of  the  societies.  At  present 
the  societies  in  Connaught  contain  little  more  than  two  hundred 
members  ;  those  in  Ulster  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  ;  those 
in  Leinster  a  thousand. 

Fri.  4. — I  took  my  ease,  riding  in  a  chaise  to  Limerick  ; 
where,  on  Saturday  the  5th,  ten  of  us  met  in  a  little  Conference.4 
By  the  blessing  of  God,  we  were  all  of  one  mind,  particularly 
with  regard  to  the  Church.  Even  J[ames]  D[eaves]  has  not 
now  the  least  thought  of  leaving  it,  but  attends  there,  be  the 
minister  good  or  bad.  On  Tuesday  the  8th,  having  settled  all 
our  little  affairs,  we  parted  in  much  love.5 

Wed.  9. — I   rode  over  to  Killeheen,  a  German  6  settlement 


1  On  July  1  he  preached  again  at  Castle-  Lecky    calls    Col.    Eyre    'a    vehement 

bar.     Was  this  '  at  a  friend's  house  '  ?  and   aggressive    Frotestant.'       He    dis- 

"■  Eyrecourt  is  a   small  market    town,  approves  of  his  policy  and  conduct,  and 

Co.  Galway,  which  took  its  name  from  says,    '  Governor   Eyre,    being   violently 

the  Eyre  family  settled  there.     Colonel  anti-Catholic,     and     fond    of    military 

Stratford  Eyre  fought  at  Culloden.     He  measures,   he   is    one   of    Mr.    Froude's 

was  the  son  of  Mr.    Eyre,  governor  of  heroes  '    (History    of  England    in    the 

Galway  in  1715,  and  he  himself  held  the  Eighteenth  Century,  vol.  ii.  pp.  340,  341, 

same  office  when  he  heard  Wesley  preach.  fifth  edition).     Another  member  of  the 

His    Protestantism     brought    him    into  Eyre  family,  John  Eyre,  not  a  soldier,  an 

collision  with  the  Mayor  and  Corporation  M  .P.  of  the  Irish  House  of  Commons,  was 

of  Galway.     Froude  says  :  '  His  words  raised  to  the  Irish  Peerage  as  Baron  Eyre, 

have  something  of  a  Cromwellian   ring  3  Now  Parsonstown. 

about  them.  .  .  .  He  was  a  man,  beyond  *  The  fourth  Irish  Conference, 

all  others,  fit  to  govern  a  people  like  the  '  On  July  8  he  preached  at  Limerick. 

Irish '  (  The  English  in  Ireland,  vol.  i.).  '  i.e.  Palatine. 


July  1760.1 


In  Ireland  397 


near  twenty  miles  south  of  Limerick.  It  rained  all  the  way  ; 
but  the  earnestness  of  the  poor  people  made  us  quite  forget  it. 
In  the  evening  I  preached  to  another  colony  of  Germans,1  at 
Ballingarrane.  The  third  is  at  Courtmatrix,  a  mile  from 
Killeheen.  I  suppose  three  such  towns  are  scarce  to  be  found 
again  in  England  or  Ireland.  There  is  no  cursing  or  swearing, 
no  Sabbath-breaking,  no  drunkenness,  no  ale-house,  in  any  of 
them.  How  will  these  poor  foreigners  rise  up  in  the  judgement 
against  those  that  are  round  about  them  ! 

Fri.  1 1. — I  preached  in  the  new  house  at  Clare  to  a  genteel 
congregation.  What  a  contrast  between  these  and  the  poor  people 
at  Killeheen  !  We  had  a  still  more  genteel  congregation  the 
next  morning  at  nine  in  the  court-house  at  Ennis,  to  whom  I 
spoke  with  all  plainness.  I  did  the  same  on  Sunday  morning  ; 
so,  if  they  hear  me  no  more,  I  am  clear  of  their  blood.  I  took 
my  leave  of  them  at  Clare  in  the  afternoon,  and  in  the  evening 
returned  to  Limerick.2 

Wed.  16. — I  rode  to  Newmarket,  which  was  another  German 
settlement  ;  but  the  poor  settlers,  with  all  their  diligence  and 
frugality,  could  not  procure  even  the  coarsest  food  to  eat  and  the 
meanest  raiment  to  put  on,  under  their  merciful  landlords,  so 
that  most  of  these,  as  well  as  those  at  Ballingarrane,  have  been 


1  See  above,   pp.   168   and  275.      Of  higher  standard  of  sobriety,  industry,  and 

the  colonies  of  German  Palatines  which  comfort.  ...  In  the  course  of  time  their 

were  brought  to  Ireland  in  1709,  Lecky  leases  fell  in  and  they  passed  into  the 

writes  :  '  They  consisted  of  rather  more  condition  of  ordinary  Irish  tenants,  and 

than  800  families,  chiefly  of  the  humblest  the  colony  rapidly  disappeared  '  (Lecky's 

classes,    and    were    settled  for   the  most  History  of  England  in   the   Eighteenth 

part  in  Limerick  and  Kerry,  where  they  Century,  vol.  ii.  pp.  343-6,  fifth  edition), 

appear    to    have     occupied    themselves  Amongst  the  Palatines  who  emigrated  to 

almost  exclusively  with  agriculture.  They  America  from  Ballingarrane  only  a  few 

were  brought  over  by  a  few  considerable  months  before  this  visit  of  Wesley's  were 

landlords,  assisted  by  a  small  grant  from  Philip  Embury,  a  Methodist  local  preacher, 

the    Irish    Parliament,    and,    unlike   the  Barbara  Heck,    and  her  husband,   who 

native  Irish,  they  usually  obtained  their  established   Methodism   at    New    York, 

farms  at  leases  of  three  lives  and  at  low  which  in  1760  and  for  more  than  twenty 

rents.    The  Germans  continued,  for  about  years    after    belonged     to     the     British 

three  quarters  of  a  century,  to  preserve  possessions  in  America, 

their  distinct  identity  and  customs,  and  '-'  On  the    12th  Walter    Sellon    wrote 

even  appointed  a  burgomaster  to  settle  proposing  a  hospital    for   superannuated 

their  disputes  ;  .  .  .  and,  without  exerting  preachers  and  travelling  preachers'  wives  ; 

any  general  wide  influence  on  Irish  life,  also  a  college  (Tyerman,  Life  of  Wesley, 

were  honourably  distinguished  from  the  vol.  ii.  p.  359)- 
population  around    them    by    their    far 


398  John   Wesley  s  J otirnal  [jmyi76o. 

forced  to  seek  bread  in  other  places,  some  of  them  in  distant 
parts  of  Ireland,  but  the  greater  part  in  America. 

Thur.  I'j. — I  met  the  classes  at  Limerick,  and  found  a  con- 
siderable decrease.  And  how  can  it  be  otherwise,  when  vice 
flows  as  a  torrent,  unless  the  children  of  God  are  all  life,  zeal, 
activity?  In  hopes  of  quickening  them,  I  preached  at  seven  in 
the  old  camp  to  more  than  twice  the  usual  congregation  ;  which 
the  two  next  evenings  was  more  numerous  still,  and  equally 
attentive.  I  was  well  pleased  to  see  a  little  army  of  soldiers 
there,  and  not  a  few  of  their  officers.  Nor  did  they  behave  as 
unconcerned  hearers,  but  like  men  that  really  desired  to  save 
their  souls. 

Sun.  20. —  I  took  my  leave  of  that  comfortable  place,  where 
some  thousands  of  people  were  assembled.  I  have  seen  no 
such  sight  since  I  came  to  the  kingdom.  They  not  only  filled 
all  the  lower  ground,  but  completely  covered  the  banks  that 
surround  it,  though  they  stood  as  close  as  possible.  I  exhorted 
them  to  '  ask  for  the  old  paths,  and  walk  therein,'  that  they 
might  '  find  rest  to  '  their  '  souls.'  We  had  afterwards  a  solemn 
meeting  of  the  society,  in  confidence  that  God  would  revive 
His  work.1 

Mon.  21. — I  left  Limerick,  and  about  noon  preached  at 
Shronell,  near  a  great  house  which  a  gentleman  built  many 
years  ago 2 ;  but  he  cannot  yet  afford  to  finish  it,  having  only 
thirty  thousand  a  year,  and  some  hundred  thousands  in  ready 
money ! 

The  beggars  but  a  common  lot  deplore  : 
The  rich-poor  man's  emphatically  poor.3 

At  six  I  preached  at  the  camp  near  Caher,  to  a  large  and 
serious  congregation  of  soldiers.  Thence  we  rode  on  to 
Clonmel,  where  I  preached  near  the  barracks,  at  eight  in  the 
morning,  to  a  wild,  staring  people  ;  but  quiet  perforce,  for  the 
soldiers  kept  them  in  awe.  We  rode  in  the  afternoon  to  Water- 
ford,  where  our  friends  had  procured  a  commodious  place, 
inclosed  on  all  sides.4     I   preached  there  three  evenings,  with 


1  Broadclough  and  Cork  are  entered  in  3  Cowley,  Essays,  '  Of  Avarice ' ;   see 

the  Sermon  Register.  W.II.S.  vol.  v.  p.  117. 

■  Probably  the  residence  of  the  Darner  '  In      Factory     Lane.      Crookshank's 

family,  who  also  built  the  church.  Methodism  in  Ireland,  vol.  i.  p.  147. 


Aug.  1760. 


In  Ireland  399 

great  hope  of  doing  good.  Our  large  room  was  full  every 
morning.  Oh  why  should  we  despair  of  any  souls  whom  God 
hath  made? 

TJnir.  24. — I  looked  over  that  well-wrote  book,  Mr.  [Charles] 
Smith's  State  of  the  County  and  City  of  Waterford}  He  plainly 
shows  that,  twelve  hundred  years  ago,  Ireland  was  a  flourishing 
kingdom.  It  seems  to  have  been  declining  almost  ever  since  ; 
especially  after  it  was  torn  into  several  independent  kingdoms. 
Thenceforward  it  grew  more  and  more  wild  and  barbarous  for 
several  hundred  years.  In  Queen  Elizabeth's  time  it  began  to 
revive  ;  and  it  increased  greatly  both  in  trade  and  inhabitants, 
till  the  deadly  blow  which  commenced  on  October  23,  1641. 
Three  hundred  thousand  Protestants,  by  a  moderate  computa- 
tion, were  then  destroyed  in  less  than  a  year  ;  and  more  than 
twice  as  many  Papists,  within  a  few  years  following.2  Most  of 
these  were  adults  ;  and  this  was  a  loss  which  the  nation  has  not 
recovered  yet.  Nay,  it  will  probably  require  another  century  to 
restore  the  number  of  inhabitants  it  had  before. 

Fri.  25. — I  preached  once  more  near  the  barracks  in 
Clonmel.and  the  next  morning  took  horse  at  four.  About  eleven 
the  sun  was  scorching  hot,  till  a  little  cloud  rose  and  covered 
us  till  we  were  near  Rathcormack.  Here  we  rested  two  hours, 
and  then  rode  on  (mostly  shaded  by  flying  clouds)  to  Cork. 

Sun.  27. — The  house  was  well  filled  ;  but  I  expect  small 
increase  of  the  work  of  God  till  we  preach  abroad. 

Thur.  31. — I  rode  to  Bandon  ;  but  my  good  old  friend, 
Mrs.  Jones,3  did  not  stay  for  my  coming.  She  was  released  out 
of  life  some  weeks  ago,  in  the  seventy-second  year  of  her  age. 
I  preached,  as  usual,  in  the  main  street,  to  a  large  and  attentive 
congregation.  And  they  were  nearly  doubled  the  next  evening  ; 
yet  all  behaved  with  the  utmost  decency.  The  market  obliged 
me  to  preach  in  the  house  on  Saturday  in  the  afternoon  :  a  very 
neat  and  lightsome  building.  Having  spent  the  time  pro- 
posed here,  with  much  satisfaction,  in  the  evening  I  returned 
to  Cork. 

Aug.  3,  Sun. — I  had  wrote  to  the  commanding  officer  for 


1  Published  in  Dublin,  1746.  3  Wife  of  Mr.  Thomas  Jones  of  Cork. 

-  The  reference  is  to  the  great  Irish       See  above,  p.  163,  and  vol.  iii.  p.  470. 
Rebellion. 


400  John    Wesley  s  Journal 


[Aug.  1760. 


leave  to  preach  near  the  barracks  l  ;  but  he  was  just  gone  out 
of  town,  so  I  was  obliged  once  more  to  coop  myself  up  in  the 
room. 

Mon.  4.— Knowing,  by  the  experiment  I  made  two  years 
since,  that  it  was  an  entertainment  above  the  taste  of  our 
evening  congregation,  I  read  some  select  letters  at  five  in  the 
morning  to  those  who  desired  to  hear  them.  And  many 
of  them  were  not  a  little  comforted  and  established  in  the  ways 
of  God.2 

Thur.  7.— In  the  afternoon  I  set  out  for  Kinsale.  In  the 
way  a  violent  storm  drove  us  into  a  little  hut,  where  a  poor 
woman  was  very  thankful  for  physical  advice,  and  another 
for  a  little  money  to  buy  her  food.  The  sky  then  clearing, 
we  soon  reached  Kinsale,  where  I  preached  at  six  in  the 
Exchange  to  a  multitude  of  soldiers  and  not  a  few  of  the  dull, 
careless  townsfolk.  At  five  in  the  morning,  it  being  a  field-day! 
the  soldiers  could  not  attend  ;  but  I  had  a  large  and  serious 
congregation  notwithstanding.  Surely  good  might  be  done  here 
also,  would  our  preachers  always  preach  in  the  Exchange,  as 
they  may  without  any  molestation,  instead  of  a  little,  ugly,  dirty 
garret. 

About  nine,  a  sharp  storm  having  put  an  end  to  their 
exercise,  I  went  to  the  soldiers  in  the  field.  I  stood  so  near 
the  entrenchments  of  the  fort  that  they  could  hear  within  as 
well  as  without.  The  sun  indeed  shone  extremely  hot  on  my 
head  ;  but  presently  a  cloud  interposed.  And  when  I  began 
to  be  chill  (for  the  wind  was  high  and  sharp)  it  removed  till  I 
wanted  it  again.  How  easily  may  we  see  the  hand  of  God 
in  small  things  as  well  as  great!  And  why  should  a  little 
pointless  raillery  make  us  ashamed  to  acknowledge  it  ? 

In  the  evening  I  preached  to  the  usual  congregation  in  the 
main  street  at  Bandon,  on  '  Her  ways  are  ways  of  pleasantness, 
and  all  her  paths  peace.'  The  congregation  was  near  twice  as 
large  at  five  in  the  morning  as  it  was  last  week  when  I  preached 
an  hour  later. 

Sun.  10.— After  preaching  at  seven,  in  a  house  crowded 
within   and    without,    I    left    this    comfortable  place,  and   went 


1  On  the  south  side  of  the  city.         -  He  also  preached  at  Cork  on  the  5th  and  6th. 


Aug.  1760 


In  Ireland  401 


back  to  Cork.  I  had  a  desire  to  preach  abroad  in  the  evening  ; 
but  the  weather  would  not  permit.  When  the  society  met,  a 
person  hugely  daubed  with  gold  thrust  violently  in.  By  his 
appearance  I  should  have  judged  him  to  be  some  nobleman. 
But  I  was  afterward  informed  it  was  Dr.  Taylor. 

On  Monday  and  Tuesday  I  took  an  account  of  the  society, 
and  was  grieved,  though  not  surprised,  to  find  such  a  declen- 
sion. I  left  two  hundred  and  ninety  members  :  I  find  only 
two  hundred  and  thirty- three.  And  what  will  the  end  be, 
unless  those  that  remain  learn  to  bear  one  another's  burdens  ? 
.Adding  to  those  in  the  other  provinces  about  six  hundred 
who  are  in  Munster,  the  whole  number  is  a  little  above  two 
thousand. 

Our  evening  congregations  this  week  were  smaller  than 
usual,  as  the  gentry  were  engaged  in  a  more  important  affair. 
A  company  of  players  were  in  town.  However,  many  of  them 
came  on  Friday ;  for  a  watch-night  was  newer  to  them  than 
a  comedy.1 

Mon.  iS. — Being  advised  from  Dublin  that  Captain  Dansey 
(with  whom  I  desired  to  sail)  would  sail  on  the  19th  or  20th, 
I  took  horse  early,  and  reached  Clonmel  between  five  and  six 
in  the  evening.  I  took  my  usual  stand  near  the  barrack-gate  ; 
and  had  abundantly  more  than  my  usual  congregation,  as  it 
was  the  Assize  week,  so  that  the  town  was  extremely  full  of 
gentry  as  well  as  common  people. 

Tues.  19. — We  had  many  light  showers,  which  cooled  the 
air  and  laid  the  dust.  We  dined  at  Kilkenny,2  noble  in  ruins  ; 
I  see  no  such  remains  of  magnificence  in  the  kingdom.  The 
late  Duke  of  Ormond's  house,3  on  the  top  of  a  rock,  hanging 


1  On  Aug.  17  he  wrote  to  J.  Trembalh,  language  were  liable  to  forfeit  their  pro- 

{H'orks,  \o\.   xii.  p.   253),  and  preached  perty.      This    was  at    a   time   when   the 

at  Cork  from  the  nth  to  the  17th.  conquerors  and    the  conquered  were  of 

-  Kilkenny  is  a  place  of  great  historical  the  same  religion,  as  Henry  II  had 
interest.  It  was  there  that  the  Parliament  brought  the  Celtic  Church  into  subjection 
was  held  in  1367,  which  enacted  the  to  the  Pope.  In  Kilkenny  grammar- 
most  anti-Irish  statute  that  ever  passed.  school  Dean  Swift,  Bishop  Berkeley, 
This  law  made  it  treason  for  men  of  and  some  other  men  of  genius  were 
English  birth  or  descent  to   intermarry  educated. 

with  the  Irish,  or  to  place  their  children  3  This  was  James,  the  second  Duke  of 

with    Irish   foster-mothers,    while   those  Ormond  (Irish    peerage),   who  in    1688 

who  adopted   Irish   names,  manners,    or  succeeded   his    grandfather,  James,    the 


402  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Aug  mo. 


over  the  river,  the  ancient  cathedral,  and  what  is  left  of  many 
grand  buildings,  yield  a  melancholy  pleasure.     Thus — 

A  little  power,  a  little  sway, 
A  sunbeam  in  a  winter's  day, 
Is  all  the  great  and  mighty  have 
Between  the  cradle  and  the  grave  ! 1 

We  lodged  at  Castle  Dermot,  and  reached  Dublin  on 
Wednesday  the  20th  ;  but  Captain  Dansey  was  not  to  sail  this 
week.  I  then  inquired  for  a  Chester  ship,  and  found  one 
which  was  expected  to  sail  on  Friday  morning  ;  but  on 
Friday  morning  the  captain  sent  us  word  he  must  wait  for 
General  Montague.2  So  in  the  afternoon  I  rode  over  to  the 
Skerries,  where  the  packet  lay  ;  but  before  I  came  thither  the 
wind,  which  was  fair  before,  shifted  to  the  east,  and  blew  a 
storm.  I  saw  the  hand  of  God,  and,  after  resting  awhile,  rode 
cheerfully  back  to  Dublin.  It  being  the  watch-night,  I  came 
just  in  time  to  spend  a  comfortable  hour  with  the  congregation. 
Oh  how  good  it  is  to  have  no  choice  of  our  own,  but  to  leave 
all  things  to  the  will  of  God  ! 

Sat.  23. — The  captain  of  the  Chester  ship  sent  word  the 
general  would  not  go,  and  he  would  sail  the  next  morning. 
So  we  have  one  day  more  to  spend  in  Ireland.  Let  us  live  this 
day  as  if  it  were  our  last. 

Sun.  24. — At  seven  I  took  leave  of  my  friends,  and  about 
noon  embarked  in  the  Nonpareil1  for  Chester.  We  had  forty 
or  fifty  passengers  on  board,  half  of  whom  were  cabin  passengers.4 
I  was  afraid  we  should  have  an  uneasy  time  in  the  midst  of 


twelfth  earl  and  first  duke,  at  the  English  vol.  v.  p.  117.     In  the  earlier  quotation 

Revolution.    The  second  duke  gave  his  of  these  lines  from  John  Dyer's  '  Grongar 

allegiance  to  William,  went  with  him  to  Hill '  Wesley  alters  the  word  '  rule  '  in 

the  Boyne,  and  entertained  him   in   his  the  first  line  to  '  pomp.'     Here  he  alters 

castle  at  Kilkenny.    After  the  accession  it  to  '  power. ' 

of    George    I    he    was    impeached    for  :  Major-General    Charles     Montague, 

treason,  and,  having  retired  to  France,  he  who    was  attached   to   the  army  estab- 

was  attainted  and  deprived  of  his  estates  lishment     in     Ireland   (W.H.S.   vol.   v. 

and  titles.    He  died  in    1745,  and  was  p.  76). 

buried   in   1746,  in  the  family  vault  in  3  Captain  Jordan.    See  below,  p.  492. 

Westminster   Abbey.      Kilkenny   Castle  4  Nicholas  Manners  was  with  Wesley, 

has  been  modernized,  and  to-day  is  the  and  gives  further  details.     See  Brethor- 

chief  residence  of  the  Marquis  of  Ormond.  ton's  Early  Methodism  in   and   aroima 

'  See  above,    p.    297  ;    also    W.H.S.  Chester,  p.  51. 


1.  PULPIT    IN     ST.    PAILS,     BEDFORD,     FROM     WHICH     THE     'GREAT     ASSIZE      SERMON  ' 

WAs    PREACHED    Is',,     PACE    254).       [Fhoto :  Mr.  >■ rank  Rich,  oi  Bedford. 

2.  view  of  st.  Paul's  church,   Bedford. 


403 


au«.  1760.J  The  Seventeenth  Conference  405 

such  a  crowd  of  gentry.  We  sailed  out  with  a  fair  wind,  but 
at  four  in  the  afternoon  it  failed,  and  left  us  in  a  dead  calm. 
I  then  made  the  gentlemen  an  offer  of  preaching,  which  the)' 
thankfully  accepted.  While  I  was  preaching  the  wind  sprung 
up  fair;  but  the  next  day  we  were  becalmed  again.  In  the 
afternoon  they  desired  me  to  give  them  another  sermon  ;  and 
again  the  wind  sprung  up  while  I  was  speaking,  and  continued 
till,  about  noon,  on  Tuesday,  we  landed  at  Parkgate.1 

Being  in  haste,  I  would  not  stay  for  my  own  horse[s],  which 
I  found  could  not  land  till  low  water.  So  I  bought  one,  and, 
having  hired  another,  set  forward  without  delay.  We  reached 
Whitchurch  that  evening. 

Wed.  27. — We  breakfasted  at  Newport,2  where,  finding  our 
horses  begin  to  fail,  we  thought  it  best  to  take  the  Birmingham 
road,  that,  if  they  should  fail  us  altogether,  we  might  stay 
among  our  friends.  But  they  would  go  no  farther  than 
Wolverhampton  ;  so  we  hired  fresh  horses  there,  and  imme- 
diately set  out  for  Worcester.  But  one  of  them  soon  after  fell, 
and  gave  me  such  a  shock  (though  I  did  not  quit  my  seat), 
that  I  was  seized  with  a  violent  bleeding  at  the  nose,  which 
nothing  we  could  apply  would  stop.  So  we  were  obliged  to 
go  a  foot-pace  for  two  miles,  and  then  stay  at  Broadwaters.3 

Thur.  28. — Soon  after  we  set  out  the  other  horse  fell  lame. 
An  honest  man,  at  Worcester,  found  this  was  owing  to  a  bad  shoe. 
A  smith  cured  this  by  a  new  shoe ;  but  at  the  same  time,  by 
paring  the  hoof  too  close,  he  effectually  lamed  the  other  foot, 
so  that  we  had  hard  work  to  reach  Gloucester.  After  resting 
here  awhile,  we  pushed  on  to  Newport,4  where  I  took  a  chaise, 
and  reached  Bristol  before  eleven. 

1  spent  the  two  following  days  with  the  preachers,5  who  had 


'  After  a  passage  of  fifty  hours.     At  3  A  hamlet  in  the  parish  of  Wolverley, 

this  time  Parkgate,  sixteen  miles  below  near   Kidderminster   (IV.ff.S.    vol.    vi. 

Chester,  was  a  port  for  Irish  traffic,  and  p.  60;  and  see  also  vol.  vii.  p.  6). 

probably  more   frequented    than    Holy-  *  Near  Berkeley  in  Gloucestershire, 

head.     Centuries  ago  Chester  itself  was  '  This  seventeenth  annual  English  Con- 

a  port,  but  the  Dee  has  been  silting  up  ference  was  one  of  the  shortest,  perhaps 

for  ages.     See  Rev.  F.  F.   Bretherton's  the  shortest,  which  he  held.  Was  Charles 

article  on  Wesley's  voyages  to  and  from  Wesley  present  ?     Most   likely  he  was, 

Parkgate.  Meth.  Rec.  Winter  No.,  1903.  from    the    letter    of    remonstrance    and 

1  The   Newport   named   is   in    Salop.  reproof  which   his   brother   WTote    from 

See  Meth.  Mag.  1830.  p.  187.  Coolalough  not  long  before.     There  was 


4o6  J0hn    Wesley  s  Journal  rsept.iTeo. 

been  waiting  for  me  all  the  week  :  and  their  love  and  unanimity 
was  such  as  soon  made  me  forget  all  my  labour. 

Sept.  i,  Mon.—\  set  out  for  Cornwall,  preaching  at  Shepton, 
Middlezoy,  and  Tiverton,  in  the  way. 

Wed.  3.— I  reached  Launceston,1  and  found  the  small  remains 
of  a  dead,  scattered  society  ;  and  no  wonder,  as  they  have  had 
scarce  any  discipline,  and  only  one  sermon  in  a  fortnight.  On 
Friday  the  5th  I  found  just  such  another  society  at  Camelford. 
But  their  deadness  here  was  owing  to  bitterness  against  each  other. 
In  the  morning  I  heard  the  contending  parties  face  to  face  ; 
and  they  resolved  and  promised,  on  all  sides,  to  let  past  things 
be  forgotten.  Oh  how  few  have  learned  to  forgive  '  one  another, 
as  God,  for  Christ's  sake,  hath  forgiven  '  us  ! 

Sat.  6.— We  had  an  exceeding  lively  congregation  in  the 
evening  at  Trewalder.  Indeed,  all  the  society  stands  well,  and 
'  adorns  the  doctrine  of  God  our  Saviour.' 

Sun.  7.— At  eight  I  preached  again,  and  was  much  com- 
forted. I  then  rode  to  Port  Isaac  church,  and  had  the  satisfaction 
of  hearing  an  excellent  sermon.  After  service  I  preached  at  a 
small  distance  from  the  church  to  a  numerous  congregation  ;  and 
to  a  far  more  numerous  one  in  the  town,  at  five  in  the  afternoon. 
In  examining  this  society,  1  found  much  reason  to  bless 
God  on  their  behalf.  They  diligently  observe  all  the  rules 
of  the  society,  with  or  without  a  preacher.  They  constantly 
attend  the  church  and  sacrament,  and  meet  together  at  the 
times  appointed.  The  consequence  is  that  thirty  out  of  thirty- 
five,  their  whole  number,  continue  to  walk  in  the  light  of  God's 
countenance. 

Mon.  8.— A  gentleman  followed  me  to  my  inn  at  St.  Columb, 
and  carried  me  to  his  house,  where  were  three  or  four  more  as 
friendly  as  himself.  One  of  them  rode  with  me  seven  or  eight 
mdes,  and  gave  me  a  pleasing  account  of  two  young  clergymen, 
Mr-  C and  Mr.  Phelps,2  who  had  the  care  of  three  adjoining 

mutual  misunderstanding.    John  thought  '  From  Launceston  he  wrote  to  Rev. 

that    Charles    was    treating    him     with  S.  Furly  {Met A.  Rec.  Oct.  17,  1907),  and 

neglect    and   unkindness  ;   and    Charles  preached,  probably  in  the  early  morning, 

thought  John  was  yielding  too  much  to  on  Friday  the  5th. 

the  anti-Church  of  England  party  amongst  *  Of  St.  Agnes,    curate   to  the    Rev. 

the   preachers.      See   Charles    Wesley's  Mr.    Walker,     brother    of     Walker    of 

Journal,  vol.  ii.  p.  229.  Truro.     See  below,  p.  529. 


Sept.  1760. 


In   Cornwall  407 


parishes.  Surely  God  has  a  favour  for  the  people  of  these 
parts  !  He  gives  them  so  serious,  zealous,  lively  preachers.  By 
these  and  the  Methodists  together,  the  line  is  now  laid,  with  no 
considerable '  interruption,  all  along  the  north  sea,  from  the 
eastern  point  of  Cornwall  to  the  Land's  End.  In  a  while,  I 
trust,  there  will  be  no  more  cause  on  these  coasts  to  accuse 
Britannos  Jiospitibus  feros? 

The  congregation  at  St.  Agnes  in  the  evening  was,  I 
suppose,  double  to  that  at  Port  Isaac.  We  had  near  as  many 
on  Tuesday  the  9th,  at  five  in  the  morning,  as  the  preaching- 
house  could  contain.  Afterward  I  examined  the  society,  and 
was  surprised  and  grieved  to  find  that,  out  of  ninety-eight 
persons,  all  but  three  or  four  had  forsaken  the  Lord's  Table. 
I  told  them  my  thoughts  very  plain.  They  seemed  convinced, 
and  promised  no  more  to  give  place  to  the  devil. 

Wed.  10. — I  had  much  conversation  with  Mr.  Phelps,  a 
man  of  a  humble,  loving,  tender  spirit.  Between  him  on  the 
one  hand,  and  the  Methodists  on  the  other,  most  in  the  parish 
are  now  awakened.  Let  but  our  brethren  have  '  zeal  according 
to  knowledge,'  and  few  will  escape  them  both.3 

When  I  came  to  St.  Ives,  I  was  determined  to  preach 
abroad  ;  but  the  wind  was  so  high  I  could  not  stand  where  I 
had  intended.  But  we  found  a  little  enclosure  near  it,  one  end 
of  which  was  native  rock,  rising  ten  or  twelve  feet  perpendicular, 
from  which  the  ground  fell  with  an  easy  descent.  A  jetting  out 
of  the  rock,  about  four  feet  from  the  ground,  gave  me  a  very 
convenient  pulpit.  Here  wellnigh  the  whole  town,  high  and 
low,  rich  and  poor,  assembled  together.  Nor  was  there  a  word 
to  be  heard  or  a  smile  seen  from  one  end  of  the  congregation  to 
the  other.  It  was  just  the  same  the  three  following  evenings. 
Indeed  I  was  afraid  on  Saturday  that  the  roaring  of  the  sea, 
raised  by  the  north  wind,  would  have  prevented  their  hearing. 
But  God  gave  me  so  clear  and  strong  a  voice  that  I  believe 
scarce  one  word  was  lost. 


1  In  the  first  and  subsequent  editions  Wesley  is  thinking  of  Cornish  wreckers, 

this  word  was  printed,  in  error,  '  incon-  See  VV.H.S.  vol.  v.  p.  48. 
siderable.'  '  The  entries  in  the  Sermon  Register 

'  'Britons  as  inhospitable,  or  cruel,  to  are  Thur.,  Sept.   11,  and  Fri.  the  12th, 

strangers.'     Horace,    Odes,    III.   iv.    33.  St.  Ives;   Sat.   the  13th,  Lelant. 


408  John    Wesley  s  Journal  isept  mo. 


Sun.  14. — At  eight  I  chose  a  large  ground,  the  sloping  side 
of  a  meadow,  where  the  congregation  stood  row  above  row,  so 
that  all  might  see  as  well  as  hear.  It  was  a  beautiful  sight. 
Every  one  seemed  to  take  to  himself  what  was  spoken.  I 
believe  every  backslider  in  the  town  was  there.  And  surely 
God  was  there  to  '  heal  their  backslidings.' 

I  began  at  Zennor,  as  soon  as  the  church  service  ended  : 
I  suppose  scarce  six  persons  went  away.  Seeing  many  there 
who  did  once  run  well,  I  addressed  myself  to  them  in  particular. 
The  spirit  of  mourning  was  soon  poured  out  ;  and  some  of  them 
wept  bitterly.  Oh  that  the  Lord  may  yet  return  unto  them, 
and  '  leave  a  blessing  behind  Him  '  ! 

At  five  I  went  once  more  into  the  ground  at  St.  Ives,  and 
found  such  a  congregation  as  I  think  was  never  seen  in  a  place 
before  (Gwennap  excepted)  in  this  county.  Some  of  the  chief 
of  the  town  were  now  not  in  the  skirts,  but  in  the  thickest  of 
the  people.  The  clear  sky,  the  setting  sun,  the  smooth,  still 
water,  all  agreed  with  the  state  of  the  audience.  Is  any- 
thing too  hard  for  God  ?  May  we  not  well  say,  in  every 
sense  ? — 

Thou  dost  the  raging  sea  control, 

And  smooth  the  prospect  of  the  deep ; 
Thou  mak'st  the  sleeping  billows  roll, 
Thou  mak'st  the  rolling  billows  sleep.1 

Mon.  15. — I  inquired  concerning  the  uncommon  storm 
which  was  here  on  March  9,  the  last  year.  It  began  near  the 
Land's  End,  between  nine  and  ten  at  night,  and  went  eastward 
not  above  a  mile  broad,  over  St.  Just,  Morvah,  Zennor,  St.  Ives, 
and  Gwinear,  whence  it  turned  northward  over  the  sea.  It 
uncovered  all  the  houses  in  its  way,  and  was  accompanied  with 
impetuous  rain.  About  a  mile  south-east  from  St.  Ives  it  tore 
up  a  rock,  twelve  or  fourteen  ton  weight,  from  the  top  of  a 
rising  ground,  and  whirled  it  down  upon  another,  which  it  split 
through,  and  at  the  same  time  dashed  itself  in  pieces.  It  broke 
down  the  pinnacles  of  Gwinear  church,  which  forced  their  way 


1  Altered     from     Tate    and     Brady's  version  ;    Virgil,    Aen.    I.   65,   66 ;    and 

version  of  Psalm  lxxxix.  9.     Wesley  has  Meth.  Ilymn-Book,  49,  ver.  6  (W.H.S. 

finely  substituted  'raging' for  'lawless'  vol.  v.  p.   182). 
and  '  smooth  '  for  '  change.'     Cf.  Watts' 


sept.  1760.)  Wesley  on   William  Law  409 

through  the  roof.  And  it  was  remarkable,  the  rain  which 
attended  it  was  as  salt  as  any  sea-water. 

At  one  I  preached  in  Madron  parish,  and  then  rode  to  St. 
Just.  I  have  not  seen  such  a  congregation  here  for  twice 
seven  years.  Abundance  of  backsliders  being  present,  I  chiefly 
applied  to  them.  Some  of  them  smiled  at  first,  but  it  was  not 
long  before  their  mirth  was  turned  into  mourning  ;  and  I  believe 
few,  if  any,  went  away  without  a  witness  from  God  that  He 
'  willeth  not  the  death  of  a  sinner.' 

Tues.  16. — At  five  the  room  was  near  full  ;  and  the  great 
power  of  God  was  in  the  midst  of  them.  It  was  now  accom- 
panied with  one  unusual  effect :  the  mouth  of  those  whom  it 
most  affected  was  literally  stopped.  Several  of  them  came  to 
me  and  could  not  speak  one  word  ;  very  few  could  utter  three 
sentences.  I  rejoined  to  the  society  ten  or  eleven  backsliders, 
and  added  some  new  members.  Here  (as  at  Port  Isaac,  St. 
Agnes,  and  St.  Ives)  we  are  called  to  thankfulness  ;  and  at 
most  other  places  to  patience. 

All  the  day  it  blew  a  storm,  and  in  the  evening,  though  the 
rain  ceased,  the  furious  wind  continued.  I  ordered  all  the 
windows  of  the  preaching-house  to  be  set  open,  so  that  most 
could  hear  without  as  well  as  within.  I  preached  on  '  He  will 
not  break  the  bruised  reed,  nor  quench  the  smoking  flax.'  And 
again  God  applied  His  word,  both  to  wound  and  to  heal  them 
that  were  already  wounded. 

About  this  time  I  wrote  the  following  letter  : 

To  the  Editor  of  '  The  London  Chronicle  ' 

gIR  September  17,   1760. 

As  you  sometimes  insert  things  of  a  religious  nature  in  your 
paper,  I  shall  count  it  a  favour  if  you  will  insert  this.1 


'  The  first  volume  of  this  edition  of  the  admiration  for  the  '  oracle.'     His   anger 

Journal  confirms  the  belief,  already  rooted  against   Law  was  caused  by  the  latter's 

by   ungrudging   admissions,  of  Wesley's  acceptance,  in  old  age,  of  Jacob  Behmen's 

indebtedness,  especially  in  early  life,  to  mysticism — an   error  into  which  Wesley 

Law's  teaching.     In  Oxford  he  read  his  himself  at  one  time  was  nearly  entrapped. 

Christian  Perfection.     During  his  voyage  He  judged,  not  unreasonably,  that  it  was 

to  Georgia,  and  afterwards,  Law's  Serious  a  type  of  touching  which,  like  Moravian 

Call  and    Christian    Perfection    ranked  '  stillness,'  was  likely  to  do  harm  among 

among  the  text-books  of  his  devotional  the   Methodist    societies.     He  published 

society  classes.     He  never  really  lost  his  a  carefully  prepared  extract  from  Law's 

VOL.    IV  25 


410  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [Sept.  mo. 

Some  years  ago  I  published  '  A  Letter  to  Mr.  Law  ' ;  and,  about  the 
same  time,  '  An  Address  to  the  Clergy.'  Of  the  former,  Mr.  Law  gives 
the  following  account,  in  his  Collection  of  Letters  lately  published  : 

'  To  answer  Mr.  Wesley's  letter  seems  to  be  quite  needless,  because 
there  is  nothing  substantial  or  properly  argumentative  in  it.     I  was  once 

a  kind  of  oracle  to  Mr.  W .     I  judged  him  to  be  much  under  the 

power  of  his  own  spirit.  To  this  was  owing  the  false  censure  which  he 
published  against  the  Mystics,  as  enemies  to  good  works '  (pp.  128,  130). 
'  His  letter  is  such  a  juvenile  composition  of  emptiness  and  pertness  as 
is  below  the  character  of  any  man  who  had  been  serious  in  religion  for 
half  a  month.  It  was  not  ability,  but  necessity,  that  put  his  pen  into 
his  hand.  He  had  preached  much  against  my  books,  and  forbade  his 
people  the  use  of  them  ;  and,  for  a  cover  of  all  this,  he  promised,  from 
time  to  time,  to  write  against  them  ;  therefore  an  answer  was  to  be 
made  at  all  adventures.  He  and  the  Pope  conceive  the  same  reasons 
for  condemning  the  mystery  revealed  by  Jacob  Behmen '  (p.  190). 

Of  the  latter  he  gives  this  account :  '  The  pamphlet  you  sent  is 
worse  than  no  advice  at  all ;  but  infinitely  beyond  Mr.  Wesley's 
Babylonish  Address  to  the  Clergy  ;  almost  all  of  which  is  empty  babble, 
fitter  for  an  old  grammarian  that  was  grown  blear-eyed  in  mending 
dictionaries  than  for  one  who  had  tasted  of  the  powers  of  the  world  to 
come  '  (p.  198). 

I  leave  others  to  judge  whether  an  answer  to  that  letter  be  quite 
needless  or  no  ;  and  whether  there  be  anything  substantial  in  it ;  but 
certainly  there  is  something  argumentative.  The  very  queries  relating 
to  Jacob's  Philosophy  are  arguments,  though  not  in  form  ;  and  perhaps 
most  of  them  will  be  thought  conclusive  arguments  by  impartial 
readers.  Let  these  likewise  judge  if  there  are  not  arguments  in  it 
(whether  conclusive  or  no)  relating  to  that  entirely  new  system  of 
divinity  which  he  has  revealed  to  the  world. 

It  is  true  that  Mr.  Law,  whom  I  love  and  reverence  now,  was  once 
'  a  kind  of  oracle  '  to  me.  He  thinks  I  am  still  'under  the  power  of 
my  '  own  spirit,'  as  opposed  to  the  Spirit  of  God.  If  I  am,  yet  my 
censure  of  the  Mystics  is  not  at  all  owing  to  this,  but  to  my  reverence 
for  the  Oracles  of  God,  which,  while  I  was  fond  of  them,  I  regarded 
less  and  less ;  till,  at  length,  finding  I  could  not  follow  both,  I  exchanged 
the  Mystic  writers  for  the  scriptural. 


Christian  Perfection  in  1743,  and  the  Canon  Overton,  in  his  Life  0/ Law,  says  : 
Serious  Call  a  year  later.  Of  the  latter  '  The  most  famous,  if  not  the  greatest  of 
he  wrote  :  '  A  treatise  which  will  hardly  all  Law's  works,  next  to  the  Bible  it  con- 
be  excelled,  if  it  be  equalled,  in  the  tributed  more  than  any  other  book  to 
English  tongue,  either  for  beauty  of  the  rise  and  spread  of  the  great  Evange- 
expression  or  for  justness  and  depth  lical  Revival  of  the  eighteenth  century' 
of  thought'   {Works,    vol.    vii.    p.    297).  (p.  109).      Law  died  in  1761. 


Sept.  1760. 


In    West  Cornwall  41 1 


It  is  sure,  in  exposing  the  Philosophy  of  Behmen,  I  use  ridicule  as 
well  as  argument  ;  and  yet,  I  trust  I  have,  by  the  grace  of  God,  been  in 
some  measure  'serious  in  religion,'  not  '  half  a  month  '  only,  but  ever 
since  I  was  six  years  old,  which  is  now  about  half  a  century.  I  do  not 
know  that  the  Pope  has  condemned  him  at  all,  or  that  he  has  any  reason 
so  to  do.  My  reason  is  this,  and  no  other  :  I  think  he  contradicts 
Scripture,  reason,  and  himself;  and  that  he  has  seduced  many  unwary 
souls  from  the  Bible-way  of  salvation.  A  strong  conviction  of  this,  and 
a  desire  to  guard  others  against  that  dangerous  seduction,  laid  me 
under  a  necessity  of  writing  that  letter.  I  was  under  no  other  necessity  ; 
though  I  doubt  not  but  Mr.  Law  heard  I  was,  and  very  seriously 
believed  it.  I  very  rarely  mention  his  books  in  public  ;  nor  are  they  in 
the  way  of  one  in  a  hundred  of  those  whom  he  terms  my  people  ; 
meaning,  I  suppose,  the  people  called  Methodists.  I  had  therefore  no 
temptation,  any  more  than  power,  to  forbid  the  use  of  them  to  the 
Methodists  in  general.  Whosoever  informed  Mr.  Law  of  this  wanted 
either  sense  or  honesty.1 

He  is  so  deeply  displeased  with  the  Address  to  the  Clergy,  because 
it  speaks  strongly  in  favour  of  learning  ;  but  still,  if  this  part  of  it  is 
only  '  fit  for  an  old  grammarian,  grown  blear-eyed  in  mending 
dictionaries,'  it  will  not  follow  that  '  almost  all  of  it  is  mere  empty 
babble ' ;  for  a  large  part  of  it  much  more  strongly  insists  on  a  single 
eye  and  a  clean  heart.  Heathen  philosophers  may  term  this  'empty 
babble  ' :  but  let  not  Christians  either  account  or  call  it  so  ! ' 2 

Wed.  17. — The  room  at  St.  Just  was  quite  full  at  five,  and 
God  gave  us  a  parting  blessing.  At  noon  I  preached  on  the 
cliff  near  Penzance,  where  no  one  now  gives  an  uncivil  word. 
Here  I  procured  an  account,  from  an  eye-witness,  of  what 
happened  the  twenty-seventh  of  last  month.  A  round  pillar, 
narrowest  at  bottom,  of  a  whitish  colour,  rose  out  of  the  sea 
near  Mousehole,  and  reached  the  clouds.  One  who  was  riding 
over  the  strand  from  Marazion  to  Penzance  saw  it  stand  for  a  , 
short  space,  and  then  move  swiftly  toward  her,  till,  the  skirt 
of  it  touching  her,  the  horse  threw  her  and  ran  away.  It  had 
a  strong  sulphurous  smell.  It  dragged  with  it  abundance  of 
sand  and  pebbles  from  the  shore  ;  and  then  went  over  the  land, 
carrying  with  it  corn,  furze,  or  whatever  it  found  in  its  way.     It 


1  'Ability  or  integrity'   is  the  phrase       corrections,  are  often  a  study  in  synonyms, 
which  was  used  in  the  first  edition.    Wes-  -  On  the  17th  he  preached  at  Newlyn 

ley's  choice  of  words,  and,  as  here,  his       and  Penzance. 


4 1 2  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [Sept.  mo. 

was  doubtless  a  kind  of  water-spout ;  but  a  water-spout  on  land, 
I  believe,  is  seldom  seen. 

The  storm  drove  us  into  the  house  at  Newlyn  also. 

Thur.  1 8. — As  we  rode  from  thence,  in  less  than  half  an 
hour  we  were  wet  to  the  skin  ;  but  when  we  came  to  Penhale 
the  rain  ceased,  and,  the  people  flocking  from  all  parts,  we 
had  a  comfortable  opportunity  together.  About  six  I  preached 
near  Helston.1  The  rain  stopped  till  I  had  done,  and  soon  after 
was  as  violent  as  before. 

Fri.  19. — I  rode  to  Illogan.  We  had  heavy  rain  before  I 
began,  but  scarce  any  while  I  was  preaching.  I  learned  several 
other  particulars  here  concerning  the  water-spout.  It  was  seen 
near  Mousehole  an  hour  before  sunset.  About  sunset  it  began 
travelling  over  the  land,  tearing  up  all  the  furze  and  shrubs  it 
met.  Near  an  hour  after  sunset  it  passed  (at  the  rate  of  four  or 
five  miles  an  hour)  across  Mr.  Harris's  fields,  in  Camborne, 
sweeping  the  ground  as  it  went,  about  twenty  yards  diameter 
at  bottom,  and  broader  and  broader  up  to  the  clouds.  It  made 
a  noise  like  thunder,  took  up  eighteen  stacks  of  corn,  with  a 
large  hay-stack  and  the  stones  whereon  it  stood,  scattered  them 
all  abroad  (but  it  was  quite  dry),  and  then  passed  over  the  cliff 
into  the  sea. 

Sat.  20. — In  the  evening  I  took  my  old  stand  in  the  main 
street  at  Redruth.  A  multitude  of  people,  rich  and  poor, 
calmly  attended.2  So  is  the  roughest  become  one  of  the  quietest 
towns  in  England.3 

Sun.    21. — I    preached    in    the   same   place  at    eight.       Mr. 

C ,  of  Cubert,  preached  at  the  church  both  morning  and 

afternoon,  and  strongly  confirmed  what  I  had  spoken.  At 
one,  the  day  being  mild  and  calm,  we  had  the  largest  con- 
gregation of  all  ;    but  it  rained  all  the  time  I   was  preaching 


1  At    St.  John's.     This  entry  in   the  still  standing,  was  built  here  (now  used 

Sermon    Register,    and   the   one   above,  as  a  warehouse). 

are  explained  by  the  following:    'About  '-'  On  Sat.  the  20th  he  preached  also 

this    time    a    society    was    formed   and  at  Besore. 

met      by      Peter      Quintrel      in      Mrs.  *  The  Sermon   Register,  which  occa- 

Warren's   house   at    St.  John's — five    in  sionally  at  this  time  becomes  irregular, 

number.     In  a  short  time  they  increased  gives   the   following  :    St.    Ewe   for  the 

to    fourteen    men    and    several    women'  21st,  '  St.  Austle'  for  the  22nd  and  24th, 

{Meth.  Mag-    1835,  p.   137).     A  chapel,  and  St.  Stephen's  for  the  25th. 


Sept.  1760.) 


In   Cornwall  4  t  3 


at  Gwennap.  We  concluded  the  day  with  a  lovefeast,  at  which 
James  Roberts,  a  tinner  of  St.  Ives,  related  how  God  had  dealt 
with  his  soul.  He  was  one  of  the  first  in  society  in  St.  Ives, 
but  soon  relapsed  into  his  old  sin,  drunkenness,  and  wallowed 
in  it  for  two  years,  during  which  time  he  headed  the  mob  who 
pulled  down  the  preaching-house.1  Not  long  after,  he  was 
standing  with  his  partner  at  Edward  May's  shop  when  the 
preacher  went  by.  His  partner  said, '  I  will  tell  him  I  am  a 
Methodist.'  '  Nay,'  said  Edward,  '  your  speech  will  bewray 
you.'  James  felt  the  word  as  a  sword,  thinking  in  himself,  '  So 
does  my  speech  now  bewray  me ! '  He  turned  and  hastened 
home,  fancying  he  heard  the  devil  stepping  after  him  all  the 
way.  For  forty  hours  he  never  closed  his  eyes,  nor  tasted  either 
meat  or  drink.  He  was  then  at  his  wit's  end,  and  went  to  the 
window,  looking  to  drop  into  hell  instantly,  when  he  heard  those 
words,  '  I  will  be  merciful  to  thy  unrighteousness,  thy  sins  and 
iniquities  will  I  remember  no  more.'  All  his  load  was  gone, 
and  he  has  now  for  many  years  walked  worthy  of  the  gospel.2 

Mon.  22. — I  preached  at  Penryn  in  the  evening.  It  rained 
before  and  after,  but  not  while  I  was  preaching.  While  we 
were  at  prayer  a  sheet  of  light  seemed  to  fill  the  yard,  and  '  the 
voice  of  the  Lord '  was  heard  over  our  heads.  This  fixed  the 
impression  they  had  received  upon  the  minds  of  many  ;  as  if  it 
had  said,  in  express  terms,  '  Prepare  to  meet  thy  God  ! ' 3 

On  Wednesday  evening,  having  (over  and  above  meeting 
the  societies)  preached  thirty  times  in  eleven  days,  I  found 
myself  a  little  exhausted  ;  but  a  day's  rest  set  me  up  :  so  on 
Friday  the  26th  I  preached  at  noon  again  near  Liskeard.  In 
the  afternoon  we  had  rain  and  wind  enough,  and  when  we  came 
to  Saltash,  no  boat  would  venture  out ;  so  we  were  obliged  to 
take  up  our  lodgings  there. 

Sat.  27. — Finding  there  was  no  hope  of  passing  here,  the 
wind  being  as  high  as  ever,  we  determined  to   ride  round   by 


1  See    above,    vol.    iii.     p.     128 — the  (possibly  his  sister,    Mrs.  Lambert)  and 

preaching-house  which   the  mob   pulled       honest  James  R .     He  tells  Charles 

down  for  joy  that  Admiral  Matthews  had  that  everywhere  he  speaks  of  bribery  and 

beaten  the  Spaniards.  '  run  goods,' and  doubts  whether  Gambold 

-  On  the  2 1st  he  wrote  from  Redruth  to  has  found  happiness  among  the  Moravians. 

Charles  Wesley  [Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  1 19),  3  On   the  27th  he  preached   again   af 

a  mysterious  letter  concerning  Sister  A.  Liskeard. 


4  r  4  John    Wesley  s  Journal  rsept  mo. 

the  new  bridge.  The  rain  still  fell  on  either  side  ;  but  for 
near  twenty  miles  we  had  not  one  drop,  and  not  a  considerable 
shower  all  day.  Soon  after  four  in  the  afternoon  we  came  safe 
to  Plymouth  Dock.1 

I  had  but  a  melancholy  prospect  here,  finding  most  of  the 
people  dead  as  stones  ;  and  when  I  took  an  account  of  the 
society,  only  thirty-four  out  of  seventy  were  left.  At  seven 
in  the  evening,  and  at  five  in  the  morning,  I  strongly  exhorted 
them  to  return  to  God.  At  eight  I  did  the  same,  and  at  five  in 
the  afternoon  ;  and  God  made  His  word  as  a  hammer.  At 
the  meeting  of  the  society,  likewise,  strong  and  effectual  words 
were  given  me.  Many  were  convinced  afresh  ;  many  backsliders 
cut  to  the  heart ;  and  I  left  once  more  between  sixty  and  seventy 
members.2 

Mon.  29. — Being  invited  by  the  minister  of  Week  St.  Mary 
to  preach  in  his  church,  I  crossed  over  the  country,  and  came 
thither  about  four  in  the  afternoon.  The  congregation  was 
large,  considering  the  weather,  and  quite  attentive  and  uncon- 
cerned. Hence  I  rode  on  to  Mill  House,  and  the  next  day 
to  Cullompton  ;  where,  finding  the  congregation  waiting,  I 
began  preaching  without  delay,  and  felt  no  weariness  or  want 
of  strength  till  I  had  delivered  my  message  to  them. 


'  Ordinary    passengers    might     count  this  interesting  geographical  description, 

upon  crossing  the  Tamar  at  Saltash  on  a  knows  the  neighbourhood  well  and  the 

big  flat-bottomed  boat.     Horses  required  painting.       He    adds  :     '  The     graceful 

an  education  for  this  crossing  -  an  educa-  arches  of   the   New  Bridge  are  painted 

tion  which  Wesley's  horses  had  no  doubt  with  great  minuteness  and  faithfulness.' 

received.     But   on    the  present  occasion  The  journey  across  to  Tavistock,  thence 

the  ordinary  ferry-boat  was  not  available  by  the  high  and  exposed  road  to  Plymouth 

because    of    the   storm.     The   travellers  Dock,  would  be  nine  or  ten  miles;  this, 

were  compelled  to  take  the  road  toward  with  the  twelve  miles  on  the  other  side 

Callington,  turning  eastward  under  Kithill  of  the  river,  would  account  for  Wesley's 

to    Gunnislake  ;    this    would    be    quite  twenty  miles. 

twelve  miles  from  Saltash.     One  almost  '  On   Sept.    28  John   Wesley,     being 

wonders  that  Wesley  did  not  here  insert  then  in   Plymouth   Dock,   wrote   to  his 

a   description  of  Gunnislake  as  it  then  brother  respecting  (1)  his  correspondence 

was,  and  of  the  graceful  new  bridge  exist-  with    Law  ;    (2)    Charles's   health  ;    (3) 

ing  in  1 760,  which  had  become  the  one  the  injury  done  to  Cornwall  by  his  own 

attractive  feature  of  the  scene.     Turner's  prolonged  absence  and  the  unfaithfulness 

painting,     'Crossing    the    Brook,'    now  of  the  preachers  ;  aud  (4)  Mr.  Walker  ot 

hung  in  the  National  Gallery,  refers  to  Truro,   who  had  been  at  Hotwells  for  a 

the  Tamar  at    Newbridge.     Mr.  Henry  month  for  his  health.     (IVorA-s,  vol.  xii. 

Roseveare,  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  p.  120.) 


Oct  1760.;  Return    to    Kingswood  415 


Oct.  i,  Wed. — After  preaching  at  five,  I  examined  the 
society,  and  found  them  more  alive  to  God  than  I  had  done 
for  many  years.  About  one  I  preached  at  Halberton,1  and  at 
Tiverton  in  the  evening.  The  next  morning  I  rode  to  Maiden 
Down,  where  the  congregation  was  waiting  for  me.  About 
noon  I  preached  at  Taunton.2  The  rain  lessened  the  congrega- 
tion at  Bridgwater  ;  a  dead,  uncomfortable  place,  at  best.  About 
seven  we  set  out  thence  for  Bavvdrip,  in  as  dark  a  night  as  I 
ever  saw  ;  but  God  gave  His  angels  charge  over  us,  and  we 
dashed  not  our  foot  against  a  stone. 

I  was  surprised  to  see  a  congregation  at  five  in  the  morning, 
to  whom  I  spoke  with  much  enlargement  of  heart.  About 
one  I  preached  at  Shepton  Mallet,  and  about  seven  in  the 
evening  at  Bristol. 

Sun.  5. — I  perceived,  by  the  liveliness  of  the  people,  that 
Mr.  Gilbert's3  labour  had  not  been  in  vain.  But  I  found  some 
exercise  too  ;  and  this  is  always  to  be  expected  among  a  large 
body  of  people,  it  being  certain  that,  as  '  all  men  have  not  faith,' 
so  all  believers  have  not  wisdom. 

Sun.  12. — I  visited  the  classes  at  Kingsvvood.  Here  only 
there  is  no  increase  ;  and  yet,  where  was  there  such  a  prospect 
till  that  weak  man,  John  Cennick,  confounded  the  poor  people 
with  strange  doctrines  ?  Oh  what  mischief  may  be  done  by  one 
that  means  well !     We  see  no  end  of  it  to  this  day. 


1  See  memoir  of  Mrs.  Anne  Harwood  April  19,  1763.    On  March  6,  1760,  Wes- 

Bale,   of    Halberton,   one    of    the    first  ley  wrote  a  remarkable  letter  to  Nicholas 

members  there   (Meth.    Mag.    1808,   p.  Gilbert    respecting    the   action   of    Paul 

509).       Her   parents  were   the    first   to  Greenwood,  John   Murlin,  and  Thomas 

receive    the    preachers    in    1750.      The  Mitchell,  who  had  given  the  sacrament 

memoir  of  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Hellyer,  at  Norwich.     'They  did  it  without  any 

of  Sampford,  says   that    Mr.    and   Mrs.  ordination,  either  by  bishops  or  elders  : 

Bale  were  the  hosts  of  Wesley  in  all  his  upon  the  sole  authority  of  a   sixpenny 

later  visits  to  Halberton.     {Meth.  Mag.  licence  :  nay,  all  had  not  that.     Do  you 

1843,  PP-  79^1  797-)  think   they   acted   right?     If  the   other 

*  See  remarkable  story  of  a  persecuting  preachers  follow  their  example,  not  only 

rioter  (Thomas  Dingle)  at  Taunton,  who  separation   but   general   confusion  must 

came  back  in  later  years  as  superintendent  follow.     My  soul  abhors  the  thought  of 

of  the  circuit.  (Meth.  Mag.  1829,  p.  279.)  separating  from  the  Church  of  England.' 

1  Nicholas    Gilbert    must    be    distin-  He  closes  the  letter  with  the  following 

guished    from     Nathaniel    and     Francis  words:  'Now  consider,  and  speak  your 

Gilbert  of  Antigua.     At  more  says  {Me-  mind.     Will  you  take  me  for  your  father, 

mortal,  p.  156):  '  He  was  a  man  of  deep  brother,    friend  ?    or    will    you    not  ?' 

piety,  who   was   snatched   away   in    the  (Tyerman's  Life  of   Wesley,   vol.   ii.    p. 

dawn     of    his    usefulness.'      See    also  382.) 


4*6  John   Wesley  s  Journal  roct.  mo. 

In  the  afternoon  [Oct.  12]  I  had  appointed  the  children  to 
meet  at  Bristol  whose  parents  were  of  the  society.  Thirty  of 
them  came  to-day,  and  above  fifty  more  on  the  Sunday  [19th], 
and  Thursday  [23rd]  following.  About  half  of  these  I  divided 
into  four  classes,  two  of  boys,  and  two  of  girls  ;  and  appointed 
proper  leaders  to  meet  them  separate.  I  met  them  all  together 
twice  a  week  ;  and  it  was  not  long  before  God  began  to  touch 
some  of  their  hearts. 

On  Tuesday  [14th]  and  Wednesday  I  visited  some  of  the 
societies  in  the  country.1  On  Thursday  I  returned  to  Bristol,  and 
in  the  afternoon  preached  a  charity  sermon  in  Newgate  for 
the  use  of  the  poor  prisoners.2 

[What  a  change  is  in  this  place  since  I  knew  it  first? 
(1)  Every  part  of  it,  above  stairs  and  below,  even  the  pit, 
wherein  the  felons  are  confined  at  night,  is  as  clean  and  sweet 
as  a  gentleman's  house:  it  being  a  rule  that  every  prisoner 
wash  and  thoroughly  cleanse  his  apartment  twice  a  week.  (2) 
Here  is  no  fighting  or  brawling.  If  any  think  himself  aggrieved, 
the  cause  is  immediately  referred  to  the  keeper,  who  hears  the 
contending  parties  face  to  face,  and  decides  the  affair  at  once. 
(3)  The  usual  grounds  of  quarrelling  are  taken  away,  for  it  is 
very  rarely  that  any  one  cheats  or  wrongs  another,  as  being 
sure,  if  anything  of  this  kind  is  discovered,  to  be  more  closely 
confined.  (4)  Here  is  no  drunkenness  suffered,  however  advan- 
tageous it  might  be  to  the  keeper  and  tapster.  (5)  Nor  any 
whoredom,  the  women  prisoners  being  narrowly  observed,  and 
kept  apart  from  the  men,  and  no  women  of  the  town  being  now 
admitted,  no,  not  at  any  price.  (6)  All  possible  care  is  taken 
to  prevent  idleness.  Those  who  are  willing  to  work  at  their 
callings  are  provided  with  tools  and  materials,  partly  by  the 
keeper  who  gives  them  credit  at  a  moderate  profit,  partly  by 
the  alms  occasionally  given,  which  are  divided  with  the  utmost 
impartiality.  Accordingly  at  this  time,  a  shoemaker,  a  tailor, 
a  brazier,  and   a  coach-maker  are   all   employed.      (7)  On   the 

'  The  Sermon  Register  gives  the  follow-  was  preached  in  Newgate  for  the  relief 

ing  appointments  :    16th,    Bristol ;  17th,  of  the  poor  debtors,  and  again  on  Friday 

Coleford;  20th,  Bristol;  24th,    Frome  ;  the,24th.  Wesley  repeated  this  description 

25th    Bristol ;  26th,  Kingswood.  of  reformed  Newgate  in  a  letter  to  The 

The  Bristol  Chronicle  reported  that  Loudon  Chronicle  (see  below,  p.  427). 
at  3  p.m.  on  the  16th,  a  charity  sermon 


Oct.  1760.1 


Death   of  George  II  417 


Lord's  day  they  neither  work  nor  play,  but  dress  themselves  as 
clean  as  they  can,  to  attend  the  public  service  in  the  chapel,  at 
which  ever\'  person  under  the  roof  is  present.  None  is  excused 
unless  sick,  in  which  case  he  is  provided  both  with  proper 
advice  and  medicines.  (8)  To  assist  them  in  spirituals  as  well 
as  temporals,  they  have  a  sermon  preached  every  Sunday  and 
Thursday.  And  a  large  Bible  is  chained  on  one  side  of  the 
chapel,  which  any  of  the  prisoners  may  read.  By  the  blessing 
of  God  on  these  regulations,  the  whole  prison  has  a  new  face. 
Nothing  offends  either  the  eye  or  ear,  and  the  whole  has  the 
appearance  of  a  quiet,  serious  family.]  * 

On  the  three  following  days  I  spoke  severally  to  the  members 
of  the  society.  As  many  of  them  increase  in  worldly  goods, 
the  great  danger  I  apprehend  now  is  their  relapsing  into  the 
spirit  of  the  world  ;  and  then  their  religion  is  but  a  dream. 

Wed.  22. — Being  informed  that  some  neighbouring  gentle- 
men had  declared  they  would  apprehend  the  next  preacher 
who  came  to  Pensford,2  I  rode  over  to  give  them  the  meeting  ; 
but  none  appeared.  The  house  was  more  than  filled  with  deeply 
attentive  hearers.  It  seems  the  time  is  come  at  length  for  the 
word  of  God  to  take  root  here  also. 

Fri.  24. —  I  visited  the  French  prisoners  at  Knowle,3  and  found 
many  of  them  almost  naked  again.  In  hopes  of  provoking 
others  to  jealousy,  I  made  another  collection  for  them,  and 
ordered  the  money  to  be  laid  out  in  linen  and  waistcoats,  which 
were  given  to  those  that  were  most  in  want. 

Sat.  25. — King  George  was  gathered  to  his  fathers.  When 
will  England  have  a  better  Prince  ? 

Many  of  us  agreed  to  observe  Friday  the  31st  as  a  day  of 


1  The  bracketed  portion  is   from  the  convert     at     Rangeworthy.       She     and 

1st  ed.  William,  then  a  boy,  would   walk  over 

"-  Preaching     had    been    resumed    at  to  Kingswood  School  every  Sunday,  six 

Pensford  by  the  preachers  from   Bristol  or  seven  miles,  to  hear  the  preaching, 

on   the  initiative  of  Mr.  and   Mrs.   Wil-  '  In    The   Bristol  Chronicle  appeared 

Ham   Wait.      For  this  family,    see    also  the  following  notice  :   '  A  charity  sermon 

E.M.P.    vol.    vi.    p.    120  ;    IV.  Af.    Mag.  will  be  preached  at  the  New  Room  in 

1830,  p.   445  ;  and  W.H.S.  vol.  vi.  pp.  the    Horsefair   on    Sunday    evening    at 

130-2.     Afterwards  Mr.   Wait  was  'the  8  o'clock,  by  the  Rev.  John  Wesley  for 

chief    instrument    in    getting    a   chapel  the    use    of    the     French    prisoners    at 

erected  in  Pensford'  (Meth.  Mag.  1808,  Knowle'    {Bristol    Chronicle,    Oct.   23, 

pp.  132,  133;.     His  mother  was  an  early  1760,  p.  243;.     See  above,  p.  355. 


4 1 8  John    Wesley  s  Journal  wov.  mo. 

fasting  and  prayer  for  the  blessing  of  God  upon  our  nation, 
and  in  particular  on  his  present  Majesty.  We  met  at  five,  at 
nine,  at  one,  and  at  half-hour  past  eight.  I  expected  to  be 
a  little  tired,  but  was  more  lively  after  twelve  at  night  than  I 
was  at  six  in  the  morning. 

Nov.  i,  Sat. — I  had  the  pleasure  of  spending  a  little  time 
with  that  venerable  man,  Mr.  Walker,  of  Truro.  I  fear  his 
physicians  do  not  understand  his  case.  If  he  recovers,  it  must 
be  through  an  almighty  Physician.1 

Mon.  3.— I  left  Bristol,  and  took  Bath,  Bradford,  and  Frome, 
in  my  way  to  Salisbury,  where  I  spent  a  day  with  much 
satisfaction. 

Fri.  7. — I  preached  about  nine,  at  Andover,  to  a  few  dead 
stones  ;  at  one  in  Whitchurch,  and  in  the  evening  at  Basingstoke. 
The  next  day,  Saturday  the  8th,  I  was  once  more  brought  safe 
to  London.2 

I  spent  about  a  fortnight,  as  usual,  in  examining  the  society — 
a  heavy  but  necessary  labour. 

Mon.  17. — I  sent  the  following  letter  : 

To  the  Editor  of  '  Lloyd's    Evening  Post  ' 

November  17,  1760. 

Sir,3 

In  your  last  paper  we  had  a  letter  from  a  very  angry  gentleman 
(though  he  says  he  had  put  himself  into  as  good  [a]  humour  as  possible), 
who  personates  a  clergyman,  but  is,  I  presume,  in  reality,  a  retainer  to 
the  theatre.  He  is  very  warm  against  the  people  vulgarly  called 
Methodists,  '  ridiculous  impostors,'  '  religious  buffoons,'  as  he  styles 
them  ;  '  saint-errants  '  (a  pretty  and  quaint  phrase),  full  of  '  inconsiderate- 
ness,  madness,  melancholy,  enthusiasm ' ;  teaching  a  '  knotty  and 
unintelligible  system '  of  religion,  yea,  a  '  contradictory  or  self-con- 
tradicting ' ;  nay,  a  '  mere  illusion,'  a  '  destructive  scheme,  and  of 
pernicious  consequence';  since  'an  hypothesis  is  a  very  slippery 
foundation  to  hazard  our  all  upon.' 

Methinks   the  gentleman  has  a  little  mistaken  his   character  :  he 


1  He  died  this  year  (1760).  3  Spiral    tragicum    satis,    et    feliciter 

2  On  the  9th  he  preached  at  the  audet '  (Horace,  Epist.  II.  i.  166),  'He 
Foundery,  Wapping,  and  West  Street.  breathes  sufficiently  the  tragic  spirit,  and 
On  the  10th  he  wrote  a  PS.  to  Primitive  is  successfully  daring.'  This  quotation 
Phy sick  {Works,  vol.  xiv.  p.  317),  and  from  Horace  appeared  at  the  head  of  the 
on  the  nth  wrote  to  'A  Member'  letter  as  originally  primed.  See  copy  in 
(  Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  276).  Richmond  College  Interleaved  Journal. 


Nov.  1760.1        Letter  to   'Lloyd's  Evening  Post'  419 

seems  to  have  exchanged  the  sock  for  the  buskin.  But,  be  this 
as  it  may,  general  charges  prove  nothing.  Let  us  come  to  par- 
ticulars. Here  they  are  :  '  The  basis  of  Methodism  is  the  grace  of 
assurance  '  (excuse  a  little  impropriety  of  expression),  '  regeneration 
being  only  a  preparative  to  it.'  Truly  this  is  somewhat  '  knotty  and 
unintelligible.'  I  will  endeavour  to  help  him  out.  The  fundamental 
doctrine  of  the  people  called  Methodists  is,  Whosoever  will  be  saved, 
before  all  things  it  is  necessary  that  he  hold  the  true  faith  ;  the  faith 
which  works  by  love  ;  which,  by  means  of  the  love  of  God  and  our 
neighbour,  produces  both  inward  and  outward  holiness.  This  faith  is 
an  evidence  of  things  not  seen  ;  and  he  that  thus  believes  is  regenerate, 
or  born  of  God  ;  and  he  has  the  witness  in  himself  (call  it  assurance,  or 
what  you  please)  :  the  Spirit  itself  witnesses  with  his  spirit  that  he  is  a 
child  of  God.  '  From  what  scripture  '  every  one  of  these  propositions 
'  is  collected,'  any  common  Concordance  will  show.  '  This  is  the  true 
portraiture  of  Methodism,'  so  called.  '  A  religion  superior  to  this ' 
(the  love  of  God  and  man)  none  can  '  enjoy,'  either  in  time  or  in 
eternity. 

But  the  Methodists  do  not  hold  '  good  works  meritorious.'  No  ; 
neither  does  ours,  or  any  other  Protestant  Church.  But  meantime 
they  hold  it  is  their  bounden  duty,  as  they  have  time,  to  do  good  unto 
all  men  ;  and  they  know  the  day  is  coming  wherein  God  will  reward 
every  man  according  to  his  works. 

But  they  'act  with  sullenness  and  sourness,  and  account  innocent 
gaiety  and  cheerfulness  a  crime  almost  as  heinous  as  sacrilege.'  Who 
does  ?  Name  the  men.  I  know  them  not,  and  therefore  doubt  the 
fact ;  though  it  is  very  possible  you  account  that  kind  of  gaiety 
innocent  which  I  account  both  foolish  and  sinful. 

I  know  none  who  denies  that  true  religion,  that  is,  love — the  love  of 
God  and  our  neighbour — '  elevates  our  spirits,  and  renders  our  minds 
cheerful  and  serene.'  It  must,  if  it  be  accompanied,  as  we  believe  it 
always  is,  with  peace  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost ;  and  if  it  produces  a 
conscience  void  of  offence  toward  God  and  toward  man. 

But  they  '  preach  up  religion  only  to  accomplish  a  lucrative  design, 
to  fleece  their  hearers,  to  accumulate  wealth,  to  rob  and  plunder, 
which  they  esteem  meritorious.'  We  deny  the  fact.  Who  is  able  to 
prove  it  ?     Let  the  affirmer  produce  his  witnesses,  or  retract. 

This  is  the  sum  of  your  correspondent's  charge,  not  one  article  of 
which  can  be  proved  ;  but  whether  it  can  or  no,  '  we  have  made  them,' 
says  he,  '  a  theatrical  scoff,  and  the  common  jest  and  scorn  of  every 
chorister  in  the  street.'  It  may  be  so  ;  but  whether  you  have  done 
well  herein  may  still  admit  of  a  question.  However,  you  cannot  but 
wish  '  we  had  some  formal  Court  of  Judicature  erected  '  (happy  Portugal 
and  Spain  !)  '  to  take  cognizance  of  such  matters.'    Nay,  Cur  optas  quod 


420  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [Nov.  i7eo. 

habes  ? x  Why  do  you  wish  for  what  you  have  already  ?  The  Court  is 
erected ;  the  holy,  devout  play-house 2  is  become  the  house  of  mercy ; 
and  does  take  cognizance  hereof,  '  of  all  pretenders  to  sanctity,  and 
happily  furnishes  us  with  a  discerning  spirit  to  distinguish  betwixt 
right  and  wrong.'  But  I  do  not  stand  to  their  sentence  ;  I  appeal  to 
Scripture  and  reason,  and  by  these  alone  consent  to  be  judged. 
I  am,  sir, 

Your  humble  servant, 

John  Wesley.3 

Sat.  22.4 — I  was  obliged  to  trouble  him  with  another  letter, 
as  follows  : 

Sir, 

Just  as  I  had  finished  the  letter  published  in  your  last  Friday's 
paper,  four  tracts  came  to  my  hands ;  one  wrote,  or  procured  to  be 
wrote,  by  Mrs.  Downes  ;  one  by  a  clergyman5  in  the  county  of  Durham  ; 
the  third,  by  a  gentleman  of  Cambridge  ;  and  the  fourth,  by  a  member 
(I  suppose,  dignitary)  of  the  Church  of  Rome.  How  gladly  would  I 
leave  all  these  to  themselves,  and  let  them  say  just  what  they  please  ! 
as  my  day  is  far  spent,  and  my  taste  for  controversy  is  utterly  lost  and 
gone.  But  this  would  not  be  doing  justice  to  the  world,  who  might 
take  silence  for  a  proof  of  guilt.  I  shall  therefore  say  a  word  con- 
cerning each.  I  may,  perhaps,  some  time  say  more  to  one  or  two  of 
them. 

The  letter  which  goes  under  Mrs.  Downes's  name  scarce  deserves 
any  notice  at  all,  as  there  is  nothing  extraordinary  in  it,  but  an 
extraordinary  degree  of  virulence  and  scurrility.6  Two  things  only  I 
remark  concerning  it,  which  I  suppose  the  writer  of  it  knew  as  well  as 
me:  (i)  That  my  letter  to  Mr.  Downes  was  both   wrote  and  printed 


1  Horace,    Sat.    I.    iii.     126  {IV. U.S.  previously  {Arm.  Mag.    1780,   p.   499). 

vol.  v.  p.  49).  r>  Rev.  Alex.  Jephson,  rector  of  Craikc, 

-  In  the   summer   season  of  the  year  Co.    Durham    (Green's     Anli- Methodist 

Foote  had  brought  out  his  comedy,  The  Publications,   No.   297).    John  Downes 

Minor.      For    an   account   of    this   dis-  was  rector  of  St.  Michael's,  Wood  Street, 

creditable  play,  of  which  Lloyd's  Evening  See  Works,  vol.  i.x.   p.  96,  for  Wesley's 

Post  said  that  it  would  be  '  criminal  even  reply  to  his  tract. 

to    reproduce     the    plot,'    see    Green's  *  A  copy  of  this  rare  pamphlet  is  in 

Anti- Methodist    Publications,    No.    298.  the    Conference  Office   Library.     Green 

On    Foote,  Jephson,    and    Downes,   see  refers  to  it  {Anti- Methodist  Publications, 

Tyerman's  Life,  vol.  ii.  pp.  367-9.  No.  283).     It  says  that  '  there  are  four 

:l  On  Nov.  19  he  preached  at  the  Bull-  large  tribes  or  families  [of  Methodists] : 

and-Mouth.  the  Wheslers,  the  Whiflers,  the  Madmen, 

1  On  this  day  Berridge  wrote  to  Wesley  and  the  Romancers  (so  called  from  their 

{Arm.  Mag.  1797,  p.  305),  in  reply  to  a  leaders,  Wesley,  Whitelield,  Madan,  and 

letter  written  from  Dublin  seven  months  Romaine) '  ! 


Nov.  1760.]  To  'Lloyd's  Evening  Post*  421 

before  Mr.  Dcnvnes  died.  (2)  That  when  I  said,  Tibi  parvula  res  est x 
('  Your  ability  is  small')  I  had  no  view  to  his  fortune,  which  I  knew 
nothing  of;  but,  as  I  there  expressly  say,  to  his  wit,  sense,  and  talents 
as  a  writer. 

The  tract  wrote  by  the  gentleman  in  the  north  is  far  more  bulky 
than  this;  but  it  is  more  considerable  for  its  bulk  than  for  its  matter, 
being  little  more  than  a  dull  repetition  of  what  was  published  some 
years  ago  in  The  Enthusiasm  of  the  Methodists  and  Papists  Com- 
pared' 2  I  do  not  find  the  author  adds  anything  new,  unless  we  may 
bestow  that  epithet  on  a  sermon  annexed  to  his  address,  which,  I 
presume,  will  do  neither  good  nor  harm.  So  I  leave  the  Durham 
gentleman,  with  Mrs.  Downes,  to  himself  and  his  admirers. 

The  author  of  the  letter  to  Mr.  Berridge  is  a  more  considerable 
writer.3  In  many  things  I  wholly  agree  with  him,  though  not  in 
admiring  Dr.  Taylor ;  but  there  is  a  bitterness  even  in  him  which  I 
should  not  have  expected  in  a  gentleman  and  a  scholar.  So  in  the 
wry  first  page  I  read,  'The  Church,  which  most  of  your  graceless 
fraternity  have  deserted.'  Were  the  fact  true  (which  it  is  not),  yet  is 
the  expression  to  be  commended  ?  Surely  Dr.  Green  himself  thinks  it 
is  not.  I  am  sorry  too  for  the  unfairness  of  his  quotations.  For 
instance  :  he  cites  me  (p.  53)  as  speaking  of  '  faith  shed  abroad  in 
men's  hearts  like  lightning.'  Faith  shed  abroad  in  men's  hearts  !  I 
never  used  such  an  expression  in  my  life  :  I  do  not  talk  after  this  rate. 
Again,  he  quotes,  as  from  me  (p.  57),  so,  I  presume,  Mr.  W.  means, 
'  a  behaviour4  does  not  pretend  to  add  the  least  to  what  Christ  has  done.' 
But  be  these  words  whose  they  may,  they  are  none  of  mine.  I  never 
spoke,  wrote,  no,  nor  read  them  before.  Once  more,  is  it  well  judged 
for  any  writer  to  show  such  an  utter  contempt  of  his  opponents  as  you 
affect  to  do  with  regard  to  the  whole  body  of  people  vulgarly  termed 
Methodists?  'You  may  keep  up,'  say  you,  'a  little  bush-fighting  in 
controversy;  you  may  skirmish  awhile  with  your  feeble  body  of 
irregulars;  but  you  must  never  trust  to  your  skill  in  reasoning'  (p.  77). 
Upon  this  I  would  ask,  (1)  if  these  are  such  poor,  silly  creatures,  why 
does  so  wise  a  man  set  his  wit  to  them  ?  '  Shall  the  King  of  Israel  go 
out  against  a  flea  ? '  (2)  If  it  should  happen  that  any  one  of  these 
silly  bush-fighters  steps  out  into  the  plain,  engages  hand  to  hand,  and 
foils  this  champion  by  mere  dint  of  reason,  will  not  his  defeat  be  so 


1  Horace,  Epist.  I.  xviii.  29.  (W.H.S.  Nos.  294  and  315.     He  was  first  a  sizar 

vol.  v.  p.  49.)  in  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge,  after- 

-  Warburton    considered    Lavington's  wards  Bishop  of  Lincoln, 
work   as   a   bad   copy   of    Stillingfleet's  '  Obviously  a  misprint  for  '  believer. 

Fanaticism  of  the  Church  of  Rome.  It  was  corrected  in  the  second  edition  of 

'  Dr.  John  Green,  Dean   of  Lincoln.  Dr.    Green's   pamphlet.      Both    editions 

See  Gteen's  Anti-Methodist  Publications  are  in  the  Conference  Office  Library. 


422  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Dec.  neo. 


much  the  more  shameful  as  it  was  more  unexpected  ?  But  I  say  the 
less  at  present,  not  only  because  Mr.  Berridge  is  able  to  answer  for 
himself,  hut  because  the  title-page  bids  me  expect  a  letter  more 
immediately  addressed  to  myself. 

The  last  tract,  entitled  A  Caveat  against  the  Methodists,  is,  in 
reality,  a  caveat  against  the  Church  of  England,  or  rather,  against  all 
the  Churches  in  Europe  who  dissent  from  the  Church  of  Rome.1  Nor 
do  I  apprehend  the  writer  to  be  any  more  disgusted  at  the  Methodists 
than  at  Protestants  of  every  denomination  ;  as  he  cannot  but  judge 
it  equally  unsafe  to  join  to  any  society  but  that  of  Rome.  Accordingly, 
all  his  arguments  are  levelled  at  the  Reformed  Churches  in  general, 
and  conclude  just  as  well  if  you  put  the  word  Protestant  throughout  in 
the  place  of  the  word  Methodist.  Although,  therefore,  the  author 
borrows  my  name  to  wound  those  who  suspect  nothing  less,  yet  I  am 
no  more  concerned  to  refute  him  than  any  other  Protestant  in  England  ; 
and  still  the  less,  as  those  arguments  are  refuted  over  and  over  in  books 
which  are  still  common  among  us. 

But  is  it  possible  any  Protestants,  nay,  Protestant  clergymen, 
should  buy  these  tracts  to  give  away  ?  Is,  then,  the  introducing  Popery 
the  only  way  to  overthrow  Methodism  ?  If  they  know  this,  and  choose 
Popery  as  the  smaller  evil  of  the  two,  they  are  consistent  with  themselves. 
But  if  they  do  not  intend  this,  I  wish  them  more  seriously  to  consider 
what  they  do.     I  am,  sir, 

Your  humble  servant, 

John  Wesley. 

Mon.  24. —  I  visited  as  many  as  I  could  of  the  sick.  How 
much  better  is  it,  when  it  can  be  done,  to  carry  relief  to  the 
poor,  than  to  send  it !  and  that  both  for  our  own  sake  and 
theirs.  For  theirs,  as  it  is  so  much  more  comfortable  to  them, 
and  as  we  may  then  assist  them  in  spirituals  as  well  as  temporals  ; 
and  for  our  own,  as  it  is  far  more  apt  to  soften  our  heart,  and  to 
make  us  naturally  care  for  each  other.2 

Dec.  1,  Mon. — I  went  in  the  machine  to  Canterbury.  In 
going  and  returning  I  read  over  The  Christian  PhilosopJier? 
It  is  a  very  extraordinary  book,  containing,  among  many  (as 
some  would  be  apt  to  term  them)  wild  thoughts,  several  fine 
and  striking  observations,  not  to  be  found  in  any  other  treatise. 


'  For   a   longer   criticism    see   below,  title  during  the  eighteenth  century,  one 

p.  434.  by   Dr.   Cotton    Mather,    the   other    by 

-  On   Sat.,   Nov.   29,  he  preached  at  Nicholas  Robinson,  M.D.     It  is  impos- 

Snowsfields.  sible  to   infer   from   Wesley's  words   to 

3  Two  books  were  published  under  this  which  of  these  he  refers. 


Dec.  i7«o.i  To   'Lloyd's  Evening  Post'  423 

Wed.  3. — I  rode  to  Dover.  Who  would  have  expected  to 
find  here  some  of  the  best  singers  in  England  ?  I  found  like- 
wise—what was  better  still — a  serious,  earnest  people.  There 
was  a  remarkable  blessing  among  them,  both  in  the  evening  and 
the  morning  ;  so  that  1  did  not  regret  the  having  been  wet  to 
the  skin  in  my  way  to  them.1 

Fri.  12. — Having  as  far  as  Hyde  Park  Corner  to  go,  I  took 
a  coach  for  part  of  the  way,  ordering  the  man  to  stop  anywhere 
at  the  end  of  Piccadilly  next  the  Haymarket.  He  stopped 
exactly  at  the  door  of  one  of  our  friends,  whose  mother,  above 
ninety  years  old,  had  long  desired  to  see  me,  though  I  knew 
it  not.  She  was  exceedingly  comforted,  and  could  not  tell  how 
to  praise  God  enough  for  giving  her  the  desire  of  her  soul.2 

We  observed  Friday  the  19th  as  a  day  of  fasting  and 
prayer  for  our  King  and  country,  and  the  success  of  the 
gospel,  and  part  of  the  answer  immediately  followed,  in  the 
remarkable  increase  of  believers  and  in  the  strengthening 
of  those  who  had  before  attained  that  precious  faith,  '  unto 
all  patience  and  long-suffering  with  joyfulness.' 

Sat.  20. — In  the  evening  I  hastened  back  from  Snowsfields 
to  meet  the  penitents  (a  congregation  which  I  wish  always  to 
meet  myself),  and  walked  thither  again  at  five  in  the  morning. 
Blessed  be  God,  I  have  no  reason  or  pretence  to  spare  myself 
yet.  I  preached  a  charity  sermon  in  West  Street  Chapel,  both 
morning  and  afternoon  ;  but  many  were  obliged  to  go  away, 
finding  it  impossible  to  get  in.  Is  it  novelty  still  which  draws 
these  from  all  parts  ?     No  ;  but  the  mighty  power  of  God. 

To-day  I  sent  the  following  letter : 

To  the  Editor  of  '  Lloyd's  Evening  Post  ' 

To  Mr.  T.  H.,  alias  E.  L.,  &c,  &c. 

What,  my  good  friend  again  !  Only  a  little  disguised  with  a  new 
name,  and  a  few  scraps  of  Latin  !  I  hoped,  indeed,  you  had  been 
pretty  well  satisfied  before  ;  but  since  you  desire  to  hear  a  little  farther 
from  me,  I  will  add  a  few  words,  and  endeavour  to  set  our  little  con- 
troversy in  a  still  clearer  light. 


'  On    Dec.    9   he  wrote   to   the   Rev.  {London  Magazine,  1760,  p.  651  ;  Works 

Mr.  Furly  (Met A.  Rec.  Oct.   17,   1907),  vol.  xiii.  p.  387). 

and  on  the  12th  to  lA  Member'  (Works,  •  On  Thur.,  Dec.  18,  he  preached  at 

vol.   xii.    p.  276)  ;   and  Mr.   T.    II Zoar. 


424  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [Dec.  mo. 

Last  month  you  publicly  attacked  the  people  called  Methodists, 
without  either  fear  or  wit.  You  charged  them  with  '  madness,  enthusiasm , 
self-contradiction,  imposture,'  and  what  not !  I  considered  each  charge, 
and,  I  conceive,  refuted  it  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  indifferent  persons. 
You  renewed  the  attack,  not  by  proving  anything,  but  affirming  the 
same  things  over  and  over.  I  replied ;  and,  without  taking  notice  of 
the  dull,  low  scurrility,  either  of  the  first  or  second  letter,  confined 
myself  to  the  merits  of  the  cause,  and  cleared  away  the  dirt  you  had 
thrown. 

You  now  heap  together  ten  paragraphs  more,  most  of  which  require 
very  little  answer.  In  the  first  you  say,  '  Your  foolishness  is  become 
the  wonder  and  admiration  of  the  public'  In  the  second,  'The  public 
blushes  for  you,  till  you  give  a  better  solution  to  the  articles  demanded 
of  you.'  In  the  third,  you  cite  my  words,  I  still  maintain  '  the  Bible, 
with  the  Liturgy  and  Homilies  of  our  Church ;  and  do  not  espouse 
any  other  principles  but  what  are  consonant  to  the  Book  of  Common 
Prayer.'  You  keenly  answer,  '  Granted,  Mr.  Methodist  ;  but  whether 
or  no  you  would  not  espouse  other  principles  if  you  durst  is  evident 
enough  from  some  innovations  you  have  already  introduced,  which  I 
shall  attempt  to  prove  in  the  subsequent  part  of  my  answer.'  Indeed 
you  will  not.  You  neither  prove,  nor  attempt  to  prove,  that  I  would 
espouse  other  principles  if  I  durst.  However,  you  give  me  a  deadly 
thrust :  '  You  falsify  the  first  Article  of  the  Athanasian  Creed.'  But 
how  so  ?  Why,  I  said,  '  The  fundamental  doctrine  of  the  people  called 
Methodists  is,  Whosoever  ivill  be  saved,  before  all  things  it  is  necessary 
that  he  hold  the  true  faith.'  Sir,  shall  I  tell  you  a  secret? — It  was  for 
the  readers  of  your  class  that  I  changed  the  hard  word  Catholic  into  an 
easier. 

In  the  fourth  paragraph  you  say,  '  Did  you  never  use  that  phrase, 
The  grace  of assurance} "  Never,  that  I  remember,  either  in  preaching 
or  writing;  both  your  ears  and  eyes  have  been  very  unhappy  if  they 
informed  you  I  did  :  and  how  many  soever  look  either  sorrowful  or 
joyful,  that  will  not  prove  the  contrary.  '  But  produce  your  texts.' 
What,  for  a  phrase  I  never  use  ?  I  pray  you,  have  me  excused.  But 
(as  I  said  before),  '  from  what  scripture  every  one  of  my  propositions 
is  collected,  any  common  Concordance  will  show.'  To  save  you  trouble, 
I  will  for  once  point  out  those  scriptures.  '  Whosoever  will  be  saved 
must  believe'  (Mark  xvi.  16;  Acts  xvi.  31).  'This  faith  works  by  love' 
(Gal.  v.  6).  It  is  'an  evidence  of  things  not  seen'  (Heb.  xi.  1).  '  He 
that  believes  is  born  of  God'  (1  John  v.  1).  'He  has  the  witness  in 
himself  (verse  10).  'The  Spirit  itself  witnesses  with  his  spirit,  that  he 
is  a  child  of  "God '  (Rom.  viii.  16). 

In  the  fifth  you  say,  'You  embrace  any  shift  to  twist  words  to  your 
own  meaning.'     This  is  saying  just  nothing.     Any  one  may  say  this  of 


Dec  1760]  A    'Remarkable  Account*  425 

any  one.  To  prove  it  is  another  point.  In  the  sixth  you  say,  '  No 
Protestant  divine  ever  taught  your  doctrine  of  assurance.'  I  hope  you 
know  no  better ;  but  it  is  strange  you  should  not.  Did  you  never  see 
Bishop  Hall's  works  ?  Was  not  he  a  Protestant  divine  ?  Was  not 
Mr.  Perkins,  Bolton,  Dr.  Sibbs,  Dr.  Preston,  Archbishop  Leighton  ? 
Inquire  a  little  farther ;  and  do  not  run  thus  hand  over  head,  asserting 
you  know  not  what.  By  assurance  (if  we  must  use  the  expression),  I 
mean  '  a  confidence  which  a  man  hath  in  God  that,  by  the  merits  of 
Christ,  his  sins  are  forgiven,  and  he  reconciled  to  the  favour  of  God.' 
Stop  !  Do  not  run  your  head  into  a  noose  again.  These  are  the  words 
of  the  Homily. 

In  the  seventh  you  grant  '  that  works  are  not  meritorious,  unless 
accompanied  with  faith.'  No,  nor  then  neither.  But  pray  do  not  talk 
of  this  any  more,  till  you  know  the  difference  between  meritorious  and 
rewardable ;  otherwise  your  ignorance  will  cause  you  to  blunder  on 
without  shame  and  without  end. 

In  your  eighth  you  throw  out  a  hard  word,  which  somebody  has 
helped  you  to,  Thaumaturg — what  is  it  ? — about  lay  preachers.  When 
you  have  answered  the  arguments  in  the  Farther  Appeal  to  Men  of 
Reason  and  Religion,  I  will  say  something  more  upon  that  head. 

In  the  ninth  you  say  something,  no  way  material,  about  the  houses 
at  Bristol,  Kingswood,  and  Newcastle  ;  and,  in  the  last,  you  give  me  a 
fair  challenge  to  a  '  personal  dispute.'  Not  so ;  you  have  fallen  upon 
me  in  public ;  and  to  the  public  I  appeal.  Let  all  men,  not  any  single 
umpire,  judge  whether  I  have  not  refuted  your  charge,  and  cleared  the 
people  called  Methodists  from  the  foul  aspersions  which,  without  why 
or  wherefore,  you  had  thrown  upon  them.  Let  all  my  countrymen 
judge  which  of  us  have  spoken  the  words  of  truth  and  soberness,  which 
has  reason  on  his  side,  and  which  has  treated  the  other  with  a  temper 
suitable  to  the  gospel. 

If  the  general  voice  of  mankind  gives  it  against  you,  I  hope  you 
will  be  henceforth  less  flippant  with  your  pen.  I  assure  you,  as  little 
as  you  think  of  it,  the  Methodists  are  not  such  fools  as  you  suppose. 
But  their  desire  is  to  live  peaceably  with  all  men  ;  and  none  desires 
this  more  than 

John  Wesley. 

About  the  close  of  this  year  I  received  a  remarkable  account 
from  Ireland  : 

When  Miss  E was  about  fifteen  she  frequently  heard  the  preach- 
ing of  the  Methodists,  so  called ;  and,  though  it  made  no  deep  impression, 
yet  she  retained  a  love  for  them  ever  after.     About  nineteen  she  was 

VOL.  IV  26 


426  John    Wesley  s  Journal  Dec.  mo. 

seized  with  a  lingering  illness.  She  then  began  to  wrestle  with  God  in 
prayer,  that  His  love  might  be  shed  abroad  in  her  heart.  '  Then,'  said 
she,  '  how  freely  could  I  give  up  all  that  is  dear  to  me  in  this  world  ! ' 
And  from  this  very  time  she  did  not  expect,  nor  indeed  desire,  to 
recover ;  but  only  to  be  cleansed  from  sin,  and  to  go  to  Christ. 

Some  who  visited  her  said,  '  O  miss,  you  need  not  fear ;  your 
innocence  will  bring  you  to  heaven.'  She  earnestly  replied,  '  Unless 
the  merits  of  Christ  plead  for  me,  and  His  nature  be  imparted  to  me, 
I  can  never  enter  there.'  And  she  was  incessantly  breaking  out  into 
these  and  the  like  expressions,  '  Oh  that  I  knew  my  sins  were  forgiven  ! 
Oh  that  I  was  born  again  !  My  one  wish  is  to  know  God,  and  be  with 
Him  eternally.' 

She  frequently  sung  or  repeated  that  verse  : 

Oh  that  He  would  Himself  impart, 
And  fix  His  Eden  in  my  heart — 

The  sense  of  sin  forgiven  ! 
How  would  I  then  throw  off  my  load, 
And  walk  delightfully  with  God, 

And  follow  Christ  to  heaven  ! ' 

She  had  now  an  earnest  desire  to  see  some  of  the  Methodists,  and 
spoke  to  several,  to  ask  some  of  those  in  Tullamore  to  visit  her.  At 
length  her  importunity  prevailed,  and  James  Kelly  2  was  sent  for.  On 
his  coming  in,  she  said,  '  I  am  exceeding  glad  to  see  you.  I  have  had 
a  longing  desire  of  it  this  month  past.  I  believe  the  power  of  God  is 
with  you.  If  I  had  health  and  strength,  there  should  not  be  a  sermon 
preached  or  a  prayer  put  up  in  your  preaching-house,  but  I  would  be 
there.' 

I  told  her,  '  I  hope  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  will  be  your  present  and 
eternal  Comforter.'  She  answered,  '  I  can  find  no  comfort  in  anything 
but  in  God  alone.'  While  she  spoke,  her  soul  was  melted  down.  The 
love  of  God  was  shed  abroad  in  her  heart,  the  tears  ran  down  her 
cheeks,  and  she  began  to  rejoice  in  God  exceedingly.  Her  mother, 
seeing  this,  was  fully  convinced  that  there  was  more  in  religion  than  she 
had  herself  experienced  ;  and  began  to  pray,  with  many  tears,  that  God 
would  show  her  His  salvation.  This  so  affected  me  that  I  could  not 
refrain  from  tears  myself  ;  so  we  all  wept,  and  prayed,  and  sang  praise 
together. 

On  my  going  to  her  a  second  time  I  found  her  truly  alive  to  God. 


'  Charles     Wesley's     Hymns    for    a  *  See     Meth.     Mag.     Dublin,     18 10, 

Family,  Poetical  Works,  vol.  vii.  p.  180.       pp.   413-18,   where  a  sketch  of  him  is 
The  last  of  six  verses.  given. 


Jan.  i76i.]  To   'The   London   Chronicle'  427 


'  Oh,'  she  said,  '  how  I  have  longed  to  see  you,  that  we  may  be  happy 
in  God  together !     Come,  let  us  sing  a  hymn.'     I  gave  out — 

Of  Him  that  did  salvation  bring, 
I  could  for  ever  think  and  sing.1 

She  sang  all  the  time  with  exceeding  joy.  Afterwards  she  said,  '  This 
is  a  weary  world  ;  but  I  have  almost  done  with  it.  Oh  how  I  long  to 
be  gone !  Some  people  tell  me  I  may  recover ;  but  I  do  not  thank 
them  ;  I  do  not  count  them  my  friends.'  On  my  saying  occasionally, 
'  There  is  no  satisfaction  for  sin  but  that  which  Christ  has  made  by 
His  precious  blood,'  she  answered,  '  That  is  all  the  satisfaction  I  want ; 
and  I  believe  He  both  lived  and  died  for  me.' 

After  this  she  gave  a  strict  charge  that  none  should  be  admitted  to 
see  her  but  such  as  could  speak  for  God  ;  saying,  '  I  do  not  love  to  have 
a  word  spoken  which  is  not  to  edification.  Oh  how  unsuitable  to  me 
are  all  the  things  which  do  not  tend  to  the  glory  of  my  God  ! '  On  her 
spitting  a  large  quantity  of  blood,  one  said,  '  You  are  in  great  pain.' 
She  answered,  '  I  think  little  of  it.  My  blessed  Redeemer  suffered 
greater  pain  for  me.' 

When  1  stood  up  to  go  away  she  said,  '  I  now  take  my  leave  of 
you.  Perhaps  we  may  not  meet  again  in  this  world ;  but  I  trust  we 
shall  meet  in  heaven.  I  am  going  to  God.  Oh  may  it  be  soon  !  1 
now  feel  a  heaven  in  my  soul.' 

The  last  time  I  came  was  on  Sunday,  December  14.  Hearing  she 
was  extremely  ill  and  wanted  rest,  we  did  not  go  up,  but  after  a  while 
began  singing  below.  She  immediately  heard,  sat  up  in  bed,  and 
insisted  on  our  being  brought  into  the  room  and  singing  there.  Many 
times  she  repeated  these  words  :  '  Come,  Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly  ! ' 
And  this  she  continued  to  do  till,  on  Wednesday  the  17  th,  she  resigned 
her  soul  into  the  hands  of  her  dear  Redeemer. 

1761.     Jan.  2. — I  wrote  the  following  letter2  : 

To  the  Editor  of  'The  London  Chronicle' 
Sir, 

Of  all  the  seats  of  woe  on  this  side  hell,  few,  I  suppose, 
exceed  or  even  equal  Newgate.  If  any  region  of  horror  could  exceed  it 
a  few  years  ago,  Newgate  in  Bristol  did 3 ;  so  great  was  the  filth,  the 


1  The  first  two  lines  of  a  hymn  popular  (Bristol).      See    article    on    Savage    in 

in  the  time  of  the  Wesleys.     Author  un-  Johnson's   Lives   of  the   Poets,    vol.   iii. 

known.     See  W.H.S.  vol.  v.  p.  183.  p.  336,  edition   1782  ;  see  above,  vol.  ii. 

1  Un  January  I,   1761,  he  preached  at  p.  173  ;  also  Life  of  the  C .  of  Huntingdon, 

West  Street.  vol.  ii.  p.  357.     Johnson  speaks  highly  of 

3  Dagge     was     l;eeper     of     Newgate  the  '  tender  jailer.' 


428  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Jan.  1761. 

stench,  the  misery,  and  wickedness,  which  shocked  all  who  had  a  spark 
of  humanity  left.  How  was  I  surprised,  then,  when  I  was  there  a  few 
weeks  ago  1]  .  .  .  And  does  not  the  keeper  of  Newgate  deserve  to  be 
remembered  full  as  well  as  the  Man  of  Ross  ?  May  the  Lord  remember 
him  in  that  day  !  Meantime,  will  no  one  follow  his  example  ?  I 
am,  sir, 

Your  humble  servant, 

John  Wesley. 

Mon.  5. — This  week  I  wrote  to  the  author  of  The  Westminster 
Journal  as  follows 2 : 

Sir, 

I  hope  you  are  a  person  of  impartiality  ;  if  so,  you  will  not 
insert  what  is  urged  on  one  side  of  a  question  only,  but  likewise  what 
is  offered  on  the  other. 

Your  correspondent  is,  doubtless,  a  man  of  sense,  and  he  seems  to 
write  in  a  good  humour ;  but  he  is  extremely  little  acquainted  with  the 
persons  of  whom  he  undertakes  to  give  an  account. 

There  is  '  gone  abroad,'  says  he,  •  an  ungoverned  spirit  of  enthusiasm, 
propagated  by  knaves,  and  embraced  by  fools.'  Suffer  me  now  to 
address  the  gentleman  himself.  Sir,  you  may  call  me  both  a  knave  and 
a  fool ;  but  prove  me  either  the  one  or  the  other,  if  you  can.  '  Why, 
you  are  an  enthusiast.'  What  do  you  mean  by  the  term  ?  A  believer 
in  Jesus  Christ  ?  An  assertor  of  His  equality  with  the  Father,  and  of 
the  entire  Christian  Revelation  ?  Do  you  mean  one  who  maintains  the 
antiquated  doctrines  of  the  New  Birth  and  Justification  by  Faith  ? 
Then  I  am  an  enthusiast.  But  if  you  mean  anything  else,  either  prove 
or  retract  the  charge. 

The  enthusiasm  which  has  lately  gone  abroad  is  faith  which 
worketh  by  love.  Does  this  'endanger  government  itself?  Just  the 
reverse.  Fearing  God,  it  honours  the  King.  It  teaches  all  men  to  be 
subject  to  the  higher  powers,  not  for  wrath,  but  for  conscience' 
sake. 

But  '  no  power  in  England  ought  to  be  independent  of  the 
supreme  power.'  Most  true  ;  yet  '  the  Romanists  own  the  authority  of 
a  Pope,  independent  of  civil  government.'  They  do,  and  thereby  show 
their  ignorance  of  the  English  Constitution.  '  In  Great  Britain  we  have 
many  popes,  for  so  I  must  call  all  who  have  the  souls  and  bodies  of 
their  followers  devoted  to  them.'     Call  them  so,  and  welcome.     But 


1  In  the  first  edition,  his  own  graphic  :   The    New    Weekly    Miscellany,    or 

description  of  Newgate  on  Oct.  14,  1760.        Westminster  Journal.    The  London  Mag. 
is  here  reprinted.    See  above  pp.  416,  417.       fiercely  attacked  Wesley  in  1 761. 


Jan.  i76i.:  To  '  The    Westminster  Journal'  429 


this  does  not  touch  nic  ;  nor  Mr.  Whitefield,  Jones,1  or  Romaine  ;  nor 
any  whom  I  am  acquainted  with.  None  of  us  have  our  followers  thus 
devoted  to  us.  Those  who  follow  the  advice  we  constantly  give  are 
devoted  to  God,  not  man.  But  'the  Methodist  proclaims  he  can 
bring  into  the  field  twenty-five  thousand  men.'  What  Methodist  ? 
Where  and  when  ?     Prove  this  fact,  and  I  will  allow  you  I  am  a  Turk. 

(1)  'But  it  is  said  they  are  all  good  subjects.  Perhaps  they  are; 
because  under  a  Protestant  Government  they  have  all  the  indulgence 
they  can  wish  for.'  And  do  you  seriously  wish  for  a  Popish  Govern- 
ment to  abridge  them  of  that  indulgence  ?  '  But  has  not  a  bad  use 
been  made  of  this  ?  Has  not  the  decency  of  religion  been  perverted  ?  ' 
Not  in  the  least :  the  decency  of  religion  is  never  so  well  advanced  as 
by  advancing  inward  and  outward  religion  together.  (2)  '  Have  not  the 
minds  of  the  vulgar  been  darkened  to  a  total  neglect  of  their  civil  and 
social  duties  ? '  Just  the  contrary.  Thousands  in  London,  as  well  as 
elsewhere,  have  been  enlightened  to  understand  and  prevailed  on  to 
practise  those  duties  as  they  never  did  before.  (3)  '  Has  not  the  peace 
of  many  families  been  ruined?'  The  lost  peace  of  many  families  has 
been  restored.  In  others,  a  furious  opposition  to  true  religion  has 
occasioned  division,  as  our  Lord  foretold  it  would.  (4)  '  Have  not  the 
circumstances  of  many  industrious  tradesmen  been  hurt?'  I  believe 
not.  I  know  no  instance ;  but  I  know  a  hundred  tradesmen  in 
London  who  began  to  be  industrious  since  they  began  to  fear  God, 
and  their  circumstances,  low  enough  till  then,  are  now  easy  and 
affluent. 

I  am  almost  ashamed  to  spend  time  upon  these  threadbare 
objections,  which  have  been  answered  over  and  over.  But  if  they  are 
advanced  again,  they  must  be  answered  again,  lest  silence  should  pass 
for  guilt. 

'  But  how  can  the  Government  distinguish  between  tenderness  of 
conscience  and  schemes  of  interest  ? '  Nothing  more  easy.  '  They 
may  withdraw  the  licences  of  such.'  Sir,  you  have  forgot  the 
question.  Before  they  withdraw  them,  they  are  to  distinguish  whether 
they  are  such  or  no.  And  how  are  they  to  do  this  ?  '  Oh,  it  is  very 
easy  ! '     So  you  leave  them  as  wise  as  they  were  before. 

But,  '  the  Methodist  who  pretends  to  be  of  the  Church  of  England 
in  forms  of  worship,  and  differs  from  her  in  point  of  doctrine,  is  not,  let 
his  pretences  be  what  they  will,  a  member  of  that  Church.'  Alas,  sir ! 
your  friends  will  not  thank  you  for  this.  You  have  broke  their  heads 
sadly.      Is  no  man  of  the  Church,  let  him  pretend  what  he  will,  who 


1  Rev.  Thomas  Jones,  M.A.,  of  St.  Tyerman's  Zz/<;  0/"  Wesley,  vol.  ii.  pp.  324, 
Saviour's,  Southwark.  For  a  description  325  ;  and  for  a  letter  written  by  him  to 
of   this  devoted   young   clergyman,    see       Wesley,  Arm.  Mag.  1780,  p.  164. 


430  John   Wesley  s  Journal  rjan.  mi. 

differs  from  her  in  point  of  doctrine  ?  Au  !  obsecro ;  cave  dixeris  !  1 
I  know  not  but  you  may  stumble  upon  scandalum  magnatum?  But 
stay  ;  you  will  bring  them  off  quickly.  '  A  truly  good  man  may  scruple 
signing  and  swearing  to  Articles  that  his  mind  and  reason  cannot 
approve  of.'  But  is  he  a  truly  good  man  who  does  not  scruple  signing 
and  swearing  to  Articles  which  he  cannot  approve  of?  However,  this 
does  not  affect  us,  for  we  do  not  differ  from  our  Church  in  point 
of  doctrine.  But  all  do  who  deny  justification  by  faith  :  therefore, 
according  to  you,  they  are  no  members  of  the  Church  of  England. 

'  Methodist  preachers,'  you  allow,  '  practise,  sign,  and  swear 
whatever  is  required  by  law  ' — a  very  large  concession  ;  '  but  the  reserves 
they  have  are  incommunicable  and  unintelligible.'  Favour  us,  sir,  with 
a  little  proof  of  this ;  till  then  I  must  plead,  Not  guilty.  In  whatever 
I  sign  or  swear  to,  I  have  no  reserve  at  all.  And  I  have  again  and  again 
communicated  my  thoughts  on  most  heads  to  all  mankind  ;  I  believe 
intelligibly  ;  particularly  in  the  Appeals  to  Men  of  Reason  and  Religion. 

But  '  if  Methodism,  as  its  professors  pretend,  be  a  new  discovery  in 

religion '     This  is  a  grievous  mistake;  we  pretend  no  such  thing. 

We  avtr  it  is  the  one  old  religion ;  as  old  as  the  Reformation,  as  old  as 
Christianity,  as  old  as  Moses,  as  old  as  Adam. 

'They  ought  to  discover  the  whole  ingredients  of  which  their 
nostrum  is  composed ;  and  have  it  enrolled  in  the  public  register,  to 
be  perused  by  all  the  world.'  It  is  done.  The  whole  ingredients  of 
Methodism,  so  called,  have  been  discovered  in  print  over  and  over  ; 
and  they  are  enrolled  in  a  public  register,  the  Bible,  from  which  we 
extracted  them  at  first.  '  Else  they  ought  not  to  be  tolerated.'  We 
allow  it,  and  desire  toleration  on  no  other  terms.  '  Nor  should  they  be 
suffered  to  add  or  alter  one  grain  different  from  what  is  so  registered.' 
Most  certainly.  We  ought  neither  to  add  or  diminish,  nor  alter  what- 
ever is  written  in  that  book. 

I  wish,  sir,  before  you  write  concerning  the  Methodists  again,  you 
would  candidly  read  some  of  their  writings.  Common  report  is  not  a 
sure  rule  of  judging ;  I  should  be  unwilling  to  judge  of  you  thereby. 

To  sum  up  the  matter.  The  whole  ingredients  of  our  religion  are, 
love,  joy,  peace,  long-suffering,  gentleness,  goodness,  fidelity,  meekness, 
temperance.  Against  these,  I  think,  there  is  no  law  ;  and,  therefore, 
I  still  apprehend  they  may  be  tolerated,  at  least  in  a  Christian  country. 

I  am,  sir, 

Your  sincere  well-wisher, 

John  Wesley.3 

1  '  Stop,  I  beseech  you,  and  beware  of  '  '  Libel  on  persons  of  exalted  rank.' 

what  you  say '—two  phrases  from  Terence.  3  On  Jan.    3  he  preached  at   Snows- 

See  W./f.S.  vol.  v.  p.  49.  fields. 


Jan.  1761.)  In   East  Anglia  431 


Fri.  9. — I  rode  to  Sundon,  and  preached  in  the  evening  ; 
and  the  next  evening  at  Bedford. 

Sun.  11.  —  I  read  prayers  and  preached  at  Everton,  both 
morning  and  afternoon. 

Mon.  12. — I  rode  to  Colchester,  and,  after  spending  two  or 
three  comfortable  days,  on  Friday  the  16th  went  on  to  Bury 
[St.  Edmunds].  I  would  gladly  have  stayed  a  day  or  two  here 
had  it  been  only  on  account  of  the  severity  of  the  weather  ;  but 
I  had  work  to  do  elsewhere.  So  I  took  horse  soon  after  preach- 
ing in  the  morning,  Saturday  the  17th,  though  as  bitter  a  one  as 
most  I  have  known.  I  never  before  felt  so  piercing  a  wind  as 
that  which  met  us  in  riding  out  of  the  gate  at  daybreak.  To 
think  of  looking  up  was  a  vain  thing :  I  knew  not  whether  I 
should  not  lose  one  of  my  eyes.  The  wind  affected  it  as  if  I  had 
received  a  severe  blow,  so  that  I  had  no  use  of  it  for  a  time.  To 
mend  the  matter,  having  a  very  imperfect  direction,  we  soon 
got  out  of  our  way.  However,  we  hobbled  on,  through  miser- 
able roads,  till  about  three  in  the  afternoon  we  got  to  Norwich. 

Sun.  18.1 — I  met  the  society  in  the  morning,  and  many  of 
them  went  with  me  to  the  cathedral.  At  two  we  had  the  largest 
congregation  I  ever  saw  at  that  hour.  At  five  the  house  was 
well  filled,  and,  just  as  long  as  I  was  speaking,  all  were  silent ; 
but  when  I  ceased  the  floods  lifted  up  their  voice — one  would 
have  thought  Bedlam  was  broke  loose.  And  thus  it  always  is  ; 
the  custom  began  in  the  reign  of  King  Log,  and  continued  ever 
since.  The  next  evening  the  same  hubbub  began  again,  not 
among  the  mob,  but  the  ordinary  hearers.  I  desired  them  to 
stop,  and  reasoned  the  case  with  them.  The  effect  was  far 
greater  than  one  could  expect.  The  whole  congregation  went  as 
quietly  and  silently  away  as  they  use  to  do  at  the  Foundery  in 
London. 

Tues.  20. — I  inquired  concerning  Yarmouth,  a  large  and 
populous  town,  and  as  eminent,  both  for  wickedness  and 
ignorance,  as  even  any  seaport  in  England.2  Some  had 
endeavoured  to  call  them  to  repentance  ;  but  it  was  at  the 
hazard  of  their  lives.       What  could  be  done  more?     Why,  last 


1  On    Jan.     18    he     wrote     to     Miss  '  Cf.  account  by  James  Wood  of  Howell 

Furly   {Works,    vol.    xii.    p.    206),    and       Harris   and    B.    Worship   in    Yarmouth, 
preached  in  Norwich  ;  also  on  the  19th.         Meth.  Mag.  1825,  p.  308. 


432  John    Wesley  s  Journal  Man  mi. 

summer  God  sent  thither  the  regiment  in  which  Howell  Harris 
was  an  officer.1  He  preached  every  night,  none  daring  to  oppose 
him  ;  and  hereby  a  good  seed  was  shown.  Many  were  stirred 
up  to  seek  God  ;  and  some  of  them  now  earnestly  invited  me  to 
come  over.  I  went  this  afternoon,  and  preached  in  the  evening. 
The  house  was  presently  more  than  filled  ;  and,  instead  of  the 
tumult  which  was  expected,  all  were  as  quiet  as  at  London. 
Indeed,  the  word  of  God  was  quick  and  powerful  among  them, 
as  it  was  again  at  six  in  the  morning.  At  eleven  I  preached 
my  farewell  sermon.  I  saw  none  that  was  not  deeply  affected. 
Oh  fair  blossoms  !  But  how  many  of  these  will  '  bring  forth 
fruit  unto  perfection  '  ? 

In  the  afternoon  I  rode  back  to  Norwich,  and  took  an 
account  of  the  society  there.  I  found  the  persons  who  pro- 
fessed to  meet  in  class  were  about  three  hundred  and  thirty  ;  but 
many  of  them  were  as  bullocks  unaccustomed  to  the  yoke. 
Where  or  what  will  they  be  a  year  hence  ? 

TJiur.  22. — We  had  our  first  watch-night  at  the  Tabernacle  ; 
at  which  I  could  not  but  observe,  though  I  preached  the  law 
from  the  beginning  of  my  sermon  to  the  end,  yet  many  were 
exceedingly  comforted.  So  plain  it  is  that  God  can  send  either 
terror  or  comfort  to  the  heart,  by  whatever  means  it  pleaseth 
Him. 

Sunday  the  25th  2  was  a  day  of  solemn  rejoicing.  Both  at 
eight,  at  eleven,  at  two,  and  at  five  God  was  eminently  present 
in  the  congregation,  filling  their  hearts  with  love  and  their  mouths 
with  praise.  In  some  of  the  following  days  I  visited  the  country 
societies. 

Fri.  30. — After  preaching  at  the  Foundery 3  in  the  evening, 
I  met  the  bands  as  usual.  While  a  poor  woman  was  speaking 
a  few  artless  words  out  of  the  fullness  of  her  heart,  a  fire  kindled 
and  ran,  as  flame  among  the  stubble,  through  the  hearts  of 
almost  all  that  heard  ;  so,  when  God  is  pleased  to  work,  it 
matters  not  how  weak  or  how  mean  the  instrument. 


1  The  gentlemen  of  the  county  ottered  saw  to  the  liberty  of  the  gospel.'     See 

Howell    Harris    a    commission    in    the  Williams'  Welsh  Calvinistic  Methodism, 

Breconshire    Militia.      He    agreed    with  p.  122. 

the    offer   upon   condition   that   he   had  '  He  also  preached  at  Norwich  on  the 

liberty    to    preach    wherever    he    went.  following  day. 
His  chief  motive  was    'the  danger   he  3  i.e.  in  Norwich. 


Feb.  1761.)  With   flicks  and  Berridge 


bo 


Sat.  31. —  I  spent  an  hour  with  one  who  was  as  hot  as  any  of 
the  lambs  at  the  Tabernacle  '  ;  but  she  is  now  a  calm,  reason- 
able woman.  Indeed  God  has  now  breathed  a  spirit  of  love  and 
peace  into  all  that  remain  united  together.  Those  who  are 
otherwise  minded  have  left  us. 

FEB.  1,  Sun. — Many  were  comforted  and  strengthened  both 
at  the  Lord's  Supper  and  at  the  evening  service.  I  think  all 
jealousies  and  misunderstandings  are  now  vanished,  and  the 
whole  society  is  well  knit  together.  How  long  will  they  con- 
tinue so,  considering  the  unparalleled  fickleness  of  the  people  in 
these  parts?  That  God  knows.  However,  He  does  work  now, 
and  we  rejoice  therein. 

Mon.  2. — I  left  them  with  a  cheerful  heart,  and  rode  on 
to  Lakenheath.  The  congregation  was  large,  but  to  this  day 
there  was  no  society.  So,  after  preaching,  I  explained  the 
nature  of  a  society,  and  examined  those  who  were  willing  to 
join  together.  Near  half  of  them  had  known  the  love  of  God, 
and  seemed  alive  to  Him. 

Tues.  3. — About  noon  I  preached  at  Harston,  five  miles 
beyond  Cambridge.  Here  Mr.  Berridge's  labour  has  not  been 
in  vain.  Several  have  found  peace  with  God  ;  and  a  more 
artless,  loving  people  I  have  seldom  seen.  They  were  gathered 
from  all  parts.  It  pleased  God  to  give  a  manifestation  of  His 
love  to  one  woman  in  the  midst  of  the  sermon.  She  praised 
God  aloud,  and  inflamed  many  hearts  with  love  and  thank- 
fulness. 

In  the  evening  I  preached  at  Melbourne,  another  small  town, 
about  four  miles  from  Harston.  Many  from  Harston  walked 
thither,  and  from  the  neighbouring  villages  ;  and  surely  God 
was  in  the  midst  of  them,  just  as  in  our  Bristol  congregations  at 
the  beginning. 

Hence  we  rode,  on  Ash  Wednesday,  FEBRUARY  4,  to 
Mr.  Hicks,  who  showed  me  the  way  to  his  church  at 
Wrestlingworth,  where  I  exhorted  a  large  and  serious  con- 
gregation, from  the  scripture  appointed  for  the  Epistle,  to  '  rend 
their  hearts,  and  not  their  garments,  and  turn  unto  the  Lord 
their  God.' 

In  the  evening  Mr.  Berridge  read  prayers,  and   I  preached 

1    Wheatley's  flock  at  the  Tabernacle  had  been  nicknamed  '  lambs  '  by  the  populace . 


434  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [Feb.  i76i. 

at  Everton.  Few  of  them  are  now  affected  as  at  first,  the 
greater  part  having  found  peace  with  God.  But  there  is  a 
gradual  increasing  of  the  work  in  the  souls  of  many  believers. 

Thur.  c. — I  called  at  Barford,  half-way  to  Bedford,  and  was 
agreeably  surprised  to  meet  J.  C.,1  from  London,  who  came  to 
Bedford  the  day  before,  and  walked  over  with  Mr.  Parker. 
We  had  a  far  larger  congregation  than  I  expected  ;  and  all  were 
deeply  serious.  I  preached  at  Bedford  in  the  evening,  on 
Friday  at  Sundon,  and  on  Saturday  returned  to  London.2 

Monday  the  9th  and  the  following  days  I  visited  the  classes. 
Friday  the  13th,  being  the  General  Fast-day,  the  chapel  in 
West  Street,  as  well  as  the  rest,  was  thoroughly  filled  with 
serious  hearers.  Surely  God  is  well  pleased  with  even  these 
outward  humiliations,  as  an  acknowledgement  that  He  is  the 
Disposer  of  all  events  ;  and  they  give  some  check,  if  it  be  but 
for  a  time,  to  the  floods  of  ungodliness.  Besides,  we  cannot 
doubt  but  there  are  some  good  men  in  most  of  the  congregations 
then  assembled  ;  and  we  know  '  the  effectual  fervent  prayer ' 
even  of  one  '  righteous  man  availeth  much.' 3 

This  week  I  published  in  The  London  Chronicle  an  answer  to 
a  tract  entitled,  A  Caveat  against  the  Methodists.  It  is  here 
subjoined  : 

'  To  the  Editor  of  'The  London  Chronicle'4 

February  19,  176 1. 

Sir, 

Is  it  not  surprising  that  every  person  of  understanding  does  not 
discern,  at  the  very  first  view,  that  the  tract  entitled,  A  Caveat  against 
the  Methodists^  is,  in  reality,  a  Caveat  against  the  Protestants?  Do 
not  the  arguments  conclude  (if  they  conclude  at  all),  not  against  the 


1  Probably  Joshua  Caldecott  of  Bishops-  Crosby  (Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  353),  and 
gate  Street,  a  member  of  the  Foundery,  on  the  17th  to  Mr.  G.  R.,  a  London 
and  a  frequent  host  of  Wesley's  (Steven-  Magazine  assailant  ( Works,  vol.  xiii. 
son's  City  Road  Chapel,  470).  Parker  p.  392).  On  Sunday,  Feb.  15,  he 
may  have  met  him  and  stayed  with  him  preached  at  West  Street  and  Snows- 
when  in  London.  fields,  and  on  the  20th  at  West  Street. 

2  And  preached  at  '  Bull-and-  Mouth  '  *  See  above,  p.  422. 

and  'Bishop  Bonner' ;  on  Sunday  the  8th  '  Published  anonymously  ;  written  by 

at  Spitalfields ;  Wednesday  the  nth  at  Richard   Challoner,    a     bishop    of    the 

Bull-and-Mouth ;   and   on    the    12th    at  Roman   Catholic  Church.     See  Green's 

Deptford.  Anti- Methodist  Publications,    No.    311, 

*  On     Feb.     14    he     wrote    to    Mrs.  and  Dictionary  oj  National  Biography. 


Feb.  1761  To  '  TJie  London  Chronicle'  435 


Methodists  only,  but  against  the  whole  body  of  Protestants  ?  The 
names,  indeed,  of  Mr.  Whitefield  and  Mr.  Wesley  are  used  ;  but  this  is 
mere  finesse  !  Greater  men  are  designed,  and  all  along  are  wounded 
through  our  sides. 

I  was  long  in  hopes  of  seeing  an  answer  to  this  artful  performance 
from  some  one  of  more  leisure  as  well  as  abilities ;  and  some  whose 
name  would  have  recommended  his  work.  For  that  thought  has 
something  of  truth  in  it — 

Oh  what  a  tuneful  wonder  seized  the  throng 

When  Marlbro's  conquering  name  alarmed  the  foe  ! 

Had  Whiznowisky  '  led  the  armies  on, 

The  General's  scarecrow  name  had  foiled   each  blow. 

However,  who  knows  but  reason,  for  once,  may  be  stronger  than 
piejudice?  And  many  may  forget  my  scarecrow  name,  and  mind  not 
who  speaks,  but  what  is  spoken.  I  am  pleading  now  not  for  the 
Methodists  only,  but  for  the  whole  body  of  Protestants  ;  first  for  the 
Church  of  England,  then  for  the  Protestants  of  every  denomination  ;  in 
doing  which  I  shall  first  give  the  substance  of  each  section  of  the 
Romish  tract  ;  secondly,  answer,  and  retort  it  upon  the  members  of 
the  Church  of  Rome.  Oh  that  this  may  incite  some  more  skilful 
advocate  to  supply  my  lack  of  service  ! 

Section    I 

'The  Methodists '  (Protestants)  'are  not  the  people  of  God;  they 
are  not  true  gospel  Christians ;  nor  is  their  new-raised  society  the  true 
Church  of  Christ,  nor  any  part  of  it '  (p.  3). 

'  This  is  demonstrated  by  the  Word  of  God  marking  out  the  people 
of  God,  the  true  church  of  Christ,  by  such  characters  as  cannot  agree 
to  the  Methodists,  or  any  other  new-raised  sect  or  community'  (ibid.). 

'  The  Old  Testament  is  full  of  prophecies  relating  to  the  Church  ; 
and  the  New  Testament  makes  glorious  promises  to  it,  and  gives 
glorious  characters  of  it '  (p.  4). 

'  Now  all  those  prophecies,  promises,  and  characters  point  out  a 
society  founded  by  Christ  Himself,  and  by  His  commission  propagated 
throughout  the  world,  which  should  flourish  till  time  should  end,  ever 
one,  ever  holy,  ever  orthodox ;  secured  against  error  by  the  perpetual 
presence   of  Christ  ;   ever  directed  by  the  Spirit  of  Truth  ;  having  a 


1  In  1668  the  ex-Queen,  Christina  of  and   weak   in   mind,    without  influence, 

Sweden,  was  a  candidate  for  the  elective  because  without  courage  and  riches ' — 

crown  of  Poland.      But  the  Poles,  who  '  an    object   of  somewhat  contemptuous 

wished  for  a  weak  king,  elected    Duke  homage.'       See    quotations    in    W.H.S. 

Michael  Whiznowiski — 'infirm  in   body  vol.  viL  pp.  115,  116. 


436  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [Feb.  mi. 


perpetual  succession  of  pastors  and  teachers,  divinely  appointed  and 
divinely  assisted.  But  no  part  of  this  character  is  applicable  to  any 
new-raised  sect,  who  have  no  succession  from,  or  connexion  with,  that 
one  holy  society  ;  therefore  no  modern  sect  can  be  any  part  of  the 
people  of  God  '  (p.  5). 

I  answer,  It  is  true,  '  all  these  promises,  prophecies,  and  characters, 
point  out  a  society  founded  by  Christ  Himself,  and  by  His  commission 
propagated  throughout  the  world,  which  should  flourish  till  time  should 
end.'  And  such  is  the  Catholic  Church,  that  is,  the  whole  body  of 
men,  endued  with  faith  working  by  love,  dispersed  over  the  whole 
earth,  in  Europe,  Asia,  Africa,  and  America.  And  this  Church  is 
'  ever  one.'  In  all  ages  and  nations  it  is  the  one  body  of  Christ.  It 
is  'ever  holy';  for  no  unholy  man  can  possibly  be  a  member  of  it. 
It  is  '  ever  orthodox';  so  is  every  holy  man,  in  all  things  necessary  to 
salvation  ;  '  secured  against  error,'  in  things  essential,  '  by  the  perpetual 
presence  of  Christ ;  and  ever  directed  by  the  Spirit  of  Truth,'  in  the  truth 
that  is  after  godliness.  This  Church  has  '  a  perpetual  succession  of 
pastors  and  teachers,  divinely  appointed,  and  divinely  assisted.'  And 
there  has  never  been  wanting  in  the  Reformed  Churches  such  a 
succession  of  pastors  and  teachers ;  men  both  divinely  appointed  and 
divinely  assisted  ;  for  they  convert  sinners  to  God — a  work  none  can  do 
unless  God  Himself  doth  appoint  them  thereto,  and  assist  them  therein  ; 
therefore  every  part  of  this  character  is  applicable  to  them.  Their 
teachers  are  the  proper  successors  of  those  who  have  delivered  down, 
through  all  generations,  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints ;  and 
their  members  have  true  spiritual  communion  with  the  '  one  holy  ' 
society  of  true  believers.  Consequently,  although  they  are  not  the 
whole  '  people  of  God,'  yet  are  they  an  undeniable  part  of  His 
people. 

On  the  contrary,  the  Church  of  Rome,  in  its  present  form,  was  not 
'  founded  by  Christ  Himself.'  All  the  doctrines  and  practices  wherein 
she  differs  from  us  were  not  instituted  by  Christ — they  were  unknown 
to  the  ancient  Church  of  Christ — they  are  unscriptural,  novel  corrup- 
tions ;  neither  is  that  Church  '  propagated  throughout  the  world.' 
Therefore,  if  either  antiquity  or  universality  be  essential  thereto,  the 
Church  of  Rome  cannot  be  'the  true  Church  of  Christ.' 

Nor  is  the  Church  of  Rome  one  ;  it  is  not  in  unity  with  itself;  it  is 
to  this  day  torn  with  numberless  divisions.  And  it  is  impossible  it 
should  be  '  the  one  Church,'  unless  a  part  can  be  the  whole ;  seeing 
the  Asiatic,  the  African,  and  the  Muscovite  Churches  (to  name  no  more), 
never  were  contained  in  it. 

Neither  is  it  holy.  The  generality  of  its  members  are  no  holier 
than  Turks  or  Heathens.     You  need  not  go  far  for  proof  of  this.     Look 


Feb.  1761.)  To   'The  London   Chronicle'  437 

at  the  Romanists  in  London  or  Dublin.  Are  these  the  holy,  the  only 
holy  Church  ?     Just  such  holiness  is  in  the  bottomless  pit. 

Nor  is  it  '  secured  against  error,'  either  '  by  Christ  '  or  '  His  Spirit ' ; 
witness  Pope  against  Pope,  Council  against  Council,  contradicting, 
anathematizing  each  other.  The  instances  are  too  numerous  to  be 
recited. 

Neither  are  the  generality  of  her  '  pastors  and  teachers  '  either 
'divinely  appointed'  or  'divinely  assisted.'  If  God  had  sent  them, 
He  would  confirm  the  word  of  His  messengers.  But  He  does  not ; 
they  convert  no  sinners  to  God  ;  they  convert  many  to  their  own 
opinion,  but  not  to  the  knowledge  or  love  of  God.  He  that  was  a 
drunkard  is  a  drunkard  still ;  he  that  was  filthy  is  filthy  still ;  there- 
fore neither  are  they  '  assisted  '  by  Him ;  so  they  and  their  flocks 
wallow  in  sin  together.  Consequently  (whatever  may  be  the  case  of 
some  particular  souls),  it  must  be  said,  if  your  own  marks  be  true,  the 
Roman  Catholics  in  general  are  not  '  the  people  of  God.' 

It  may  be  proper  to  add  here  the  second  section,  which  is  all 
I  had  leisure  to  write,  though  it  was  not  published  till  the 
following  week  : 

Section    II 

'The  Methodist'  (Protestant)  '  teachers  are  not  the  true  ministers 
of  Christ ;  nor  are  they  called  or  sent  by  Him  '  (p.  6). 

1  This  appears  from  what  has  been  already  demonstrated.  For  if 
the  Protestants  are  not  the  true  people  of  Christ,  their  ministers  cannot 
be  the  true  ministers  of  Christ '  (ibid.). 

Farther,  '  The  true  ministers  came  down  by  succession  from  the 
apostles.  But  the  Protestant  teachers  do  not.  Therefore  they  are  not 
the  true  ministers  of  Christ '  (ibid.). 

'  All  power  in  the  Church  of  Christ  comes  from  Him ;  so  that  who- 
ever, without  a  commission  from  Him,  intrudes  into  the  pastoral  office, 
is  a  thief  and  a  robber.  Now,  the  commission  can  be  conveyed  but 
two  ways  :  either  immediately  from  God  Himself,  as  it  was  to  the 
apostles,  or  from  men  who  have  the  authority  handed  down  to  them 
from  the  apostles. 

1  But  this  commission  has  not  been  conveyed  to  Protestant  preachers 
either  of  these  ways.  Not  immediately  from  God  Himself  ;  for  how  do 
they  prove  it  ?  By  what  miracles  ?  Neither  by  men  deriving  authority 
from  the  apostles,  through  the  channel  of  the  Church.  And  they 
stand  divided  in  communion  from  all  Churches  that  have  any  pre- 
tensions to  antiquity.  Their  doctrine  of  justification  by  faith  alone 
was  anathematized  at  its  first  appearance  by  the  undoubted  heirs  of  the 
apostles,  the  pastors  of  the  apostolic  churches  ;  consequently  they  are 


438  John    Wesley  s  Journal  rreb.  mi. 

sent  by  no  other  but  him  who  sent  all  the   false   prophets  from  the 
beginning  '  (pp.  8,  9). 

I  answer,  'from  what  has  been  already  demonstrated,'  that  nothing 
will  follow  ;  for  you  have  demonstrated  just  nothing. 

Now  for  your  '  farther '  proof.  '  The  true  ministers  came  down  by 
succession  from  the  apostles.'  So  do  the  Protestant  ministers,  if  the 
Romish  do  ;  the  English  in  particular  ;  as  even  one  of  yourselves, 
F.  Courayer,1  has  irrefragably  proved. 

'  All  power  in  the  Church  of  Christ  comes  from  Him  ;  either 
immediately  from  Himself,  or  from  men  who  have  the  authority  handed 
down  to  them  from  the  apostles.  But  this  commission  has  not  been 
conveyed  to  the  Protestant  preachers  either  of  these  ways :  not 
immediately ;  for  by  what  miracles  do  they  prove  it  ? '  So  said 
Cardinal  Bellarmine  long  ago.  Neither  '  by  men  deriving  authority 
from  the  apostles.'  Read  F.  Courayer,  and  know  better.  Neither  are 
the  Protestants  '  divided  from '  any  '  Churches  '  who  have  true  '  pre- 
tensions to  antiquity.'  But  '  their  doctrine  of  justification  by  faith 
alone  was  anathematized,  at  its  first  appearance,  by  the  undoubted 
heirs  of  the  apostles,  the  pastors  of  the  apostolic  church.'  By  the 
prelates  at  the  Council  of  Trent  it  was ;  who  thereby  anathematized 
the  Apostle  Paul,  to  all  intents  and  purposes.  Here  you  throw  off  the 
mask  ;  otherwise  you  might  have  passed  for  a  Protestant  a  little  longer. 
'  Consequently  they  are  sent  by  no  other  but  him  who  sent  all  the  false 
prophets  from  the  beginning.'  Sir,  we  thank  you.  This  is  really  a 
very  modest  assertion  for  the  subject  of  a  Protestant  king. 

But  to  turn  the  tables :  I  said,  '  If  the  Romish  bishops  do.'  For 
this  I  absolutely  deny.  I  deny  that  the  Romish  bishops  came  down 
by  uninterrupted  succession  from  the  apostles.  I  never  could  see  it 
proved  ;  and,  I  am  persuaded,  I  never  shall.  But  unless  this  is  proved, 
your  own  pastors,  on  your  principles,  are  no  pastors  at  all. 

But  farther  :  it  is  a  doctrine  of  your  Church  that  the  intention  of 
the  administrator  is  essential  to  the  validity  of  the  sacraments  which 
are  administered  by  him.  Now,  are  you  assured  of  the  intention  of 
every  priest  from  whom  you  have  received  the  Host  ?  If  not,  you  do 
not  know  but  what  you  received  as  the  sacrament  of  the  altar  was  no 
sacrament  at  all.  Are  you  assured  of  the  intention  of  the  priest  who 
baptized  you?  If  not,  perhaps  you  are  not  baptized  at  all.  To  come 
close  to  the  point  in  hand  :  if  you  pass  for  a  priest,  are  you  assured  of 
the  intention    of  the  bishop   that   ordained    you  ?      If   not,  you    may 


1  Pierre  Francois  le  Courayer,  De-  Bishops  in  the  Church  of  England.  A 
fence  of  the  Validity  of  the  English  divine  of  the  Church  of  Rome  long  resi- 
Ordinations   and    of    the     Succession   of      dent  in  England.    ( IV.H.S.  vol.iv.  p.  1 35-) 


March  i76i.j  Pastoral    Work   in   London  439 


happen  to  be  no  priest,  and  so  all  your  ministry  is  nothing  worth  :  nay, 
by  the  same  rule,  he  may  happen  to  be  no  bishop.  And  who  can  tell 
how  often  this  has  been  the  case?  But  if  there  has  been  only  one 
instance  in  a  thousand  years,  what  becomes  of  your  uninterrupted 
succession  ? 

This  ad  hominem.  But  I  have  a  word  more  ad  rem.  Can  a  man 
teach  what  he  does  not  know  ?  Is  it  possible  a  man  should  teach 
others  what  he  does  not  know  himself?  Certainly  it  is  not.  Can  a 
priest,  then,  teach  his  hearers  the  way  to  heaven,  marked  out  in  our 
Lord's  Sermon  on  the  Mount,  if  he  does  not  know  or  understand  the 
way  himself?  Nothing  is  more  impossible.  But  how  many  of  your 
priests  know  nothing  about  it !  What  avails,  then,  their  commission  to 
teach  what  they  cannot  teach,  because  they  know  it  not  ?  Did  God, 
then,  send  these  men  on  a  fool's  errand  ?  send  them  to  do  what  they 
cannot  do  ?  Oh  say  not  so  !  And  what  will  be  the  event  of  their 
attempting  to  teach  they  know  not  what  ?  Why,  '  if  the  blind  lead  the 
blind,  both  shall  fall  into  the  pit.' 

Sat.  21. — I  spent  some  hours  with  Mr.  L[loyd]  and 
Mr.  I'Anson,  in  order  to  prevent  another  Chancery  suit.1  And 
though  the  matter  could  not  then  be  fully  adjusted,  yet  the  suit 
did  not  go  on.2 

Tues.  24. — I  retired  to  Lewisham,  and  transcribed  the  list  of 
the  society.  About  a  hundred  and  sixty  I  left  out,  to  whom 
I  can  do  no  good  at  present.  The  number  of  those  which  now 
remain  is  two  thousand  three  hundred  and  seventy-five. 

Fri.  27. — At  twelve  I  met  about  thirty  persons  who  had 
experienced  a  deep  work  of  God  ;  and  I  appointed  an  hour  for 
meeting  them  every  week.  Whether  they  are  saved  from  sin 
or  no,  they  are  certainly  full  of  faith  and  love,  and  peculiarly 
helpful  to  my  soul. 

March  i,  Sun. — We  had  a  happy  lovefeast  at  the  chapel. 
Many  of  our  brethren  spoke  plainly  and  artlessly  what  God  had 
done  for  their  souls.  I  think  none  were  offended  ;  but  many 
were  strengthened  and  comforted.3 

Wed.  4. — I   was  scarce   come    into  the    room   where   a    few 


'  See,   for   interesting    discussion    re-  Tuesday   the   24th   at  West   Street  and 

specting   the   acquisition   of   Kingswood  Lewisham. 
School  property,  W.H. S.  vol.  iii.  pp.  70-2.  3  On  March  2  he  preached  at  Spital- 

7  On  Sunday,  Feb.  22,  he  preached  at  fields,    and  on  the  3rd  wrote  to  Sarah 

the  Foundery  and  West  Street  ;  and  on  Moor  {Methodism  in  Sheffield,  p.  156). 


440  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [March  i76i. 

believers  were  met  together  when  one  began  to  tremble 
exceedingly,  and  soon  after  sunk  to  the  floor.  After  a  violent 
struggle  she  burst  out  into  prayer,  which  was  quickly  changed 
into  praise.  She  then  declared,  '  The  Lamb  of  God  has  taken 
away  all  my  sins.'  She  spoke  many  strong  words  to  the  same 
effect,  rejoicing  with  joy  unspeakable. 

Fri.  6. — I  met  again  with  those  who  believe  God  has 
delivered  them  from  the  root  of  bitterness.  Their  number 
increases  daily.  I  know  not  if  fifteen  or  sixteen  have  not 
received  the  blessing  this  week.1 

Mon.  9. — I  set  out  early,  and  about  noon  preached  at  High 
Wycombe,  where  the  dry  bones  began  to  shake  again.  In  the 
afternoon  I  rode  on  to  Oxford,  and  spent  an  agreeable  evening 
with  Mr.  H.  His  openness  and  frankness  of  behaviour  were 
both  pleasing  and  profitable.  Such  conversation  I  want  ;  but  I 
do  not  wonder  it  is  offensive  to  men  of  nice  ears. 

Tues.  10. — We  rode  to  Evesham,  where  I  found  the  poor 
shattered  society  almost  sunk  into  nothing.  And  no  wonder, 
since  they  have  been  almost  without  help,  till  Mr.  [Alexander] 
Mather 2  came.  In  the  evening  I  preached  in  the  town  hall. 
Both  at  this  time  and  at  five  in  the  morning  God  applied  His 
word,  and  many  found  a  desire  to  '  strengthen  the  things  that 
remained.'  I  designed  to  have  rested  on  Wednesday,  but 
finding  that  notice  had  been  given  of  my  preaching  at  Stanley,3 
we  got  thither,  through  roads  almost  impassable,  about  noon, 
and  found  more  people  than  the  house  could  contain  ;  so  I 
stood  in  the  yard,  and  proclaimed  free  salvation  to  a  loving, 
simple  people.  Several  were  in  tears,  and  all  of  them  so 
thankful  that  I  could  not  repent  of  my  labour. 

The  congregation  at  Evesham  in  the  evening  was  thrice  as 
large  as  the  night  before.  Indeed  many  of  them  did  not  design 
to  hear,  or  to  let  any  one  else  hear  ;  but  they  were  overruled, 
and   behaved   with  tolerable  decency  till  the  service  was  over. 


1  On  Sunday,  March  8,  he  preached  at  ley's  death.   See  Telford's  Two  West  End 

West  Street.  Chapels,  pp.  19-21 ;  E.M.P.  vol.  ii.  pp. 

'  Born  at   Brechin    (N.B.)    in    1733,  158-239  ;  above,  p.  93. 

converted   under    Wesley's    ministry    in  3  This  is  doubtless  Stanley  Pontlarge, 

London;  entered  the  itinerancy  in  1757.  in   Gloucestershire,   nine  miles  south  of 

He  was  the  second  President  after  Wes-  Evesham. 


March  1761.] 


In   the  Midlands  44 1 


Then  they  roared  amain  ;  but  I  walked  straight  through  them, 
and  none  offered  the  least  rudeness. 

T/iur.  1 2. — About  one  I  preached  at  Redditch  to  a  deeply 
serious  congregation  ;  about  seven,  in  the  room '  at  Birmingham, 
now  far  too  small  for  the  congregation. 

Fri.  13. —  Many  flocked  together  at  five,  and  far  more  than 
the  room  would  contain  in  the  evening.  Perhaps  the  time  is 
come  for  the  gospel  to  take  root  even  in  this  barren  soil. 

Sat.  14. — I  rode  to  Wednesbury. 

Sun.  15. — I  made  a  shift  to  preach  within  at  eight  in  the 
morning  ;  but  in  the  afternoon  I  knew  not  what  to  do,  having  a 
pain  in  my  side  and  a  sore  throat.  However,  I  resolved  to 
speak  as  long  as  I  could.  I  stood  at  one  end  of  the  house,2  and 
the  people  (supposed  to  be  eight  or  ten  thousand)  in  the  field 
adjoining.  I  spoke  from  '  I  count  all  things  but  loss,  for  the 
excellency  of  the  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus  my  Lord.'  When 
I  had  done  speaking,  my  complaints  were  gone.  At  the  love- 
feast  in  the  evening  many,  both  men  and  women,  spoke  their 
experience  in  a  manner  which  affected  all  that  heard.  One  in 
particular  said,  '  For  seventeen  or  eighteen  years  I  thought  God 
had  forgotten  me.  Neither  I  nor  any  under  my  roof  could 
believe.  But  now,  blessed  be  His  name,  He  has  taken  me  and 
all  my  house  ;  and  given  me,  and  my  wife,  and  our  seven 
children,  to  rejoice  together  in  God  our  Saviour.' 

Mon.  16. — I  intended  to  rest  two  or  three  days  ;  but,  being 
pressed  to  visit  Shrewsbury,  and  having  no  other  time,  I  rode 
over  to-day,  though  upon  a  miserable  beast.  When  I  came  in 
my  head  ached  as  well  as  my  side.  I  found  the  door  of  the 
place  where  1  was  to  preach  3  surrounded  by  a  numerous  mob. 
But  they  seemed  met  only  to  stare.  Yet  part  of  them  came 
in  ;  almost  all  that  did  (a  large  number)  behaved  quietly  and 
seriously.4 

1  They  were  still  in  Steelhouse  Lane.  opened   in    1760  (Metk.  Rec.  April   25, 

But  Alexander    Mather    came  in   1760,  1901). 

and  his  work   led  to   the    'hiring  of  a  s  Tradition  says  this  was  No.  I,  Fish 

large    building.'      This   was    a    disused  Street. 

'  play-house '   in    a   court    leading   from  *  For  early  Methodism  in  Shrewsbury 

Moor  Street  to  Park  Street.     It  was  in  use  see   Meth.    Times,    Nov.   5,    1908;  also 

till    1782.     See  W.    C.   Sheldon's  Early  W.H.S.  vol.   iv.  pp.  217-23,   where  W. 

Methodism  in  Birmingham,  p.  20.  Phillips's  Early  Methodism  in  Shropshire 

''  In   Meeting    Street,    completed   and  (1896)  is  freely  quoted. 

VOL.    IV  27 


44 2  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [March  mi. 

Tugs.  17. — At  five  the  congregation  was  large,  and  appeared 
not  a  little  affected.  The  difficulty  now  was,  how  to  get  back,1 
for  I  could  not  ride  the  horse  on  which  I  came  ;  but  this,  too, 
was  provided  for.  We  met  in  the  street  with  one  who  lent  me 
his  horse,  which  was  so  easy  that  I  grew  better  and  better  till 
I  came  to  Wolverhampton.  None  had  yet  preached  abroad  in 
this  furious  town  2  ;  but  I  was  resolved,  with  God's  help,  to  make 
a  trial,  and  ordered  a  table  to  be  set  in  the  inn-yard.3  Such  a 
number  of  wild  men  I  have  seldom  seen  ;  but  they  gave  me  no 
disturbance,  either  while  I  preached  or  when  I  afterwards 
walked  through  the  midst  of  them. 

About  five  I  preached  to  a  far  larger  congregation  at  Dudley, 
and  all  as  quiet  as  at  London.  The  scene  is  changed  since  the 
dirt  and  stones  of  this  town  were  flying  about  me  on  every  side.4 

Wed.  18. — By  talking  with  several  at  Wednesbury,  I  found 
God  is  carrying  on  His  work  here  as  at  London.  We  have 
ground  to  hope  one  prisoner  was  set  at  full  liberty  under  the 
sermon  on  Saturday  morning  ;  another  under  that  on  Saturday 
evening.  One  or  more  received  remission  of  sins  on  Sunday  ; 
on  Monday  morning  another,  and  on  Wednesday  yet  another 
believed  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  had  cleansed  him  from  all  sin. 
In  the  evening  I  could  scarce  think  but  more  than  one  heard 
Him  say,  '  I  will ;  be  thou  clean  ! '  Indeed,  so  wonderfully  was 
He  present  till  near  midnight,  as  if  He  would  have  healed  the 
whole  congregation. 

Thur.  19. — After  preaching  at  Bilbrook  I  rode  on  to  Burslem, 
and  preached  at  half-hour  past  five,  in  an  open  place  on  the  top 
of  the  hill,  to  a  large  and  attentive  congregation,  though  it 
rained  almost  all  the  time  and  the  air  was  extremely  cold.  The 
next  morning  (being  Good  Friday)  I  did  not  preach  till  eight. 
But  even  then,  as  well  as  in  the  evening,  the  cold  considerably 
lessened  the  congregation.  Such  is  human  wisdom  !  So  small 
are  the  things  which  divert  mankind  from  what  might  be  the 
means  of  their  eternal  salvation  ! 


1  See  W.H.S.  vol.  vii.  p.  6.  3  The  yard  of  the  Angel  Inn,   at   the 

3  But    see     Whitefield's    letter    from  north-east   angle   of  Queen    Square  and 

Wolverhampton,   Oct.  27,    1753:   'Last  Lichfield  Street,  is  now    occupied  by  a 

night     I    preached    here    in   the   dark'  bank  (Met A.  Rec.  Feb.  13,  1902).. 

(Whitefield's   Works,  vol.  iii.  p.  34).  *  See  above,  vol.  iii.  p.  444. 


COTTAGE    PREACHING-PLACES. 
I.    FRANCIS    WARD'S    COTTAGE,    HRIDGE    STREET,    WEDNESBURY. 

2    AND    3.    INTERIOR    AND    EXTERIOR    OF    JOHN     CLARKE'S    COTTAGE     AT    OXWICH,    IN 
WHICH    WESLEY    PREACHED    MORE    THAN    ONCE. 


44  3 


March  i76i.j    The  Yorkshire  and  Lincolnshire  Societies     445 

Sat.  21. — About  ten  I  preached  at  Biddulph,1  and  about  six 
at  Congleton. 

Sun.  22. — About  one  I  preached  at  Macclesfield,  near  the 
preaching-house.-  The  congregation  was  large,  though  the 
wind  was  sharp.  But  it  was  more  than  doubled  after  the  even- 
in,;  service,  while  I  opened  and  enforced  the  solemn  declaration, 
'  Him  hath  God  exalted  with  His  own  right  hand,  to  be  a  Prince 
and  a  Saviour.'     In  the  evening  I  rode  on  to  Manchester. 

Mon.  23. — After  preaching  at  five,  I  hastened  forward,  and 
reached  Leeds  about  five  in  the  evening,  where  I  had  desired  all 
the  preachers  in  those  parts  to  meet  me,3  and  a  happy  meeting  we 
had  both  in  the  evening  and  morning.  I  afterwards  inquired 
into  the  state  of  the  societies  in  Yorkshire  and  Lincolnshire.  1 
find  the  work  of  God  increases  on  every  side,  but  particularly  in 
Lincolnshire,  where  there  has  been  no  work  like  this  since  the 
time  I  preached  at  Epworth  on  my  father's  tomb. 

In  the  afternoon  I  talked  with  several  of  those  who  believe 
they  are  saved  from  sin,  and,  after  a  close  examination,  I  found 
reason  to  hope  that  fourteen  of  them  were  not  deceived.  In  the 
evening  I  expounded  the  thirteenth  chapter  of  the  first  Epistle 
to  the  Corinthians,  and  exhorted  all  to  weigh  themselves  in  that 
balance  and  see  if  they  were  not  '  found  wanting.' 4 


1   Wesley's     host     was     Mr.     William  Break  forth  into  singing,  ye  trees  of  the 

Stonier  (or  Stanier),  The  Hurst,  Biddulph,  wood- 

,.   ri                 r  r,        .   .          ,         ,               ,  for  Jesus  is  bringing  Biddulph  sinners  to 

chief  trustee  of  Congleton  chapel,  a  zeal-  q    . 

ous  local  preacher,  a  man  of  wealth,  who 

used  to  relate  the  following  anecdote  of  Quoted  in  W.H.S.  vol.  iv.  p.  30. 
Wesley  (see  Dyson's  Hist,  of  Methodism  "  It  could  scarcely  contain  a  hundred 
in  the  Congleton  Circuit,  p.  69)  :  people  {Met A.  in  Macclesfield,  pp.  53-4). 
The  journey  from  The  Hurst  to  Congleton  3  This  was  not  the  annual  Conference, 
was  performed  on  foot.  At  that  time  the  which  met  in  September.  To  this  Con- 
hills  over  which  their  path  lay  were  much  ference  of  Yorkshire  preachers  Grimshaw 


was   invited,    but   did   not   attend.     He 


more  wooded  than  now.  Divine  influence 
had  attended  the  word  spoken  on  the  pre- 
ceding evening,  while  a  gracious  effect  re-  wrote  t0  Wesley  explaining  the  cause  of 
mained  in  a  high  degree  on  Wesley's  own  his  absence.  He  objected  to  the  wild 
mind.  This  was  evinced  by  his  animated  and  unscriptural  views  on  Christian  Per- 
conversation.  Nor  did  the  beautiful  scenery  fection  whkh  sQme  Qf  the  hers 
through  which  they  were  passing  escape  his  ,  r 
notice  or  fail  to  affect  his  fine  sense  of  the  held-  II  was  to  correct  these  errors  and 
beauties  of  nature,  for  when  he  found  him-  to  instruct  the  preachers  that  this  special 
self  in  the  midst  of  the  wooded  hills  and  Conference  was  called.  See  below,  p.  469. 
valleys  he  suddenly  stood  still  gazed  upon  ,  Qn  March  he  wrQte  frQm  Leeds 
the  lovely  scenery,  and  then,  in  his  nne  clear  .  „  . 
voice,  gave  out,  altering  the  words  to  suit  to  Christopher  Hopper  (  Works,  vol.  xn. 
the  occasion  :  p.  3°5)- 


446  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [April  mi. 

Wed.  25. — I  took  horse  early,  breakfasted  with  Mr.  Venn,1 
and  about  four  in  the  afternoon  came  to  Stockport.  Finding 
the  congregation  waiting,  I  preached  immediately,  and  then  rode 
on  to  Manchester,  where  I  rested  on  Thursday. 

Fri.  2j. — I  rode  to  Bridgefield,2  in  the  midst  of  the  Derby- 
shire mountains,  and  cried  to  a  large  congregation  :  '  If  any  man 
thirst,  let  him  come  unto  Me  and  drink.'  And  they  did  indeed 
drink  in  the  word  as  the  thirsty  earth  the  showers.  About  six 
I  preached  at  Stockport.  Here  I  inquired  after  a  young  man 
who  was  some  time  since  much  in  earnest  for  salvation.  But  it 
was  not  long  before  he  grew  quite  cold,  and  left  the  society. 
Within  a  few  months  after  he  left  the  world,  and  that  by  his 
own  hand  !     The  next  day  I  returned  to  Manchester.3 

Sun.  29. — We  had  an  uncommon  blessing,  both  morning  and 
afternoon.  In  the  evening  I  met  the  believers,  and  strongly 
exhorted  them  to  '  go  on  unto  perfection.'  To  many  of  them  it 
seemed  a  new  doctrine.  However,  they  all  received  it  in  love, 
and  a  flame  was  kindled  which  I  trust  neither  men  nor  devils 
shall  ever  be  able  to  quench. 

rues.  31. — I  rode  to  Altrincham.  We  had  four  rooms  which 
opened  into  each  other,  but  they  would  not  near  contain  the 
congregation,  so  that  many  were  obliged  to  stand  without.  I 
believe  many  were  wounded,  and  some  much  comforted.  Perhaps 
this  town  will  not  be  quite  so  furious  as  it  has  been. 

In  the  evening  we  had  abundance  of  genteel  people  at 
Manchester  while  I  described  faith  as  '  the  evidence  of  things 
not  seen.'  I  left  Manchester  in  the  morning,  April  1,  in  a 
better  condition  than  ever  I  knew  it  before  ;  such  is  the  shaking, 
not  only  among  the  dry  bones,  but  likewise  among  the  living 
souls.  About  noon  I  preached  at  Little  Leigh,  and  at  Chester  * 
in  the  evening. 

T/iur.  2. — I  rode  over  to  Tattenhall,  eight  or  nine  miles  from 
Chester.5     When   we  came  the   town   seemed   to   be  all  in  an 


'  Rev.  Henry  Venn,  the  recently  ap-  reports    the    conversation   (W.M.   Mag. 

pointed  vicar  of  Huddersfield.  1863,  p.  1 104).     He  preached  in  Man- 

1  In   a   secluded,    now   often    visited,  Chester  on  the  29th. 
spot  just   outside  the  town  of  Glossop  4  See  IV. M.  Mag.  1863,  pp.  1104-6. 

{Me/A.  Rtc.  March  3,  1904).  *  On  April   2   he  wrote   to  the   Rev. 

*  During   this    visit  Wesley   and    Mr.  Mr.    G disavowing  the   '  nickname  ' 

Philips  spent  two  hours  with  Byrom,  who  Methodist  {Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  262). 


Apm mi.]  A  Northern  Journey  447 

uproar,  yet  when  I  began  preaching  (in  the  open  air,  the  house 
not  being  large  enough  to  contain  one  quarter  of  the  congrega- 
tion) none  opposed  or  made  the  least  disturbance,  the  fear  of 
God  falling  upon  them.  I  think  Tattenhall  will  be  less  bitter 
for  the  time  to  come.  Well  may  Satan  be  angry  with  field- 
preaching  ! 

Fri.  3. —  I  preached  about  one  at  Mold,  in  Flintshire,  and  was 
again  obliged  to  preach  abroad,  though  the  wind  was  exceeding 
rough.  All  were  deeply  attentive.  I  preached  in  the  evening 
at  Chester,  and  in  the  morning  set  out  for  Liverpool  ;  I  came 
thither  (preaching  at  Warrington  by  the  way)  in  the  evening. 
The  election  seemed  to  have  driven  the  common  sort  of  people 
out  of  their  senses.  But  on  Sunday  they  were  tolerably  re- 
covered, and  the  town  looked  like  itself.  I  heard  two  useful 
sermons  at  our  parish  church,1  one  upon  '  Follow  peace  with  all 
men,  and  holiness,'  the  other  on  '  Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die 
in  the  Lord.'     I  pity  those  who  '  can  learn  nothing  at  church.' 2 

Mon.  13. — I  left  them  at  Liverpool,  a  little  increased  in 
number,  but  very  considerably  in  strength,  being  now  entirely 
united  together  in  judgement  as  well  as  in  affection. 

About  noon  I  preached  to  a  serious  congregation  at  Down- 
all  Green,  near  Wigan,  but  to  a  far  more  serious  one  in  the 
evening  at  Bolton.  I  find  few  places  like  this  ;  all  disputes  are 
forgot,  and  the  Christians  do  indeed  love  one  another.  When  I 
visited  the  classes  on  Wednesday  the  15th,  I  did  not  find  a  dis- 
orderly walker  among  them  ;  no,  nor  a  trifler.  They  appeared 
to  be  one  and  all  seriously  seeking  salvation. 

Tliur.  16. — After  preaching  at  noon,  I  rode  to  Lower  Darwen, 
near  Blackburn,  where  a  large  congregation  behaved  with  deep 
seriousness.  Leaving  honest  Mr.  Grimshaw  to  preach  in  the 
morning  [Fri.  17],  I  set  out  early,  and  in  the  evening  reached  a 
little  quiet  house  a  few  miles  beyond  Kendal,  to  which,  I  believe, 
we  did  not  come  in  vain.  The  man  of  the  house,  having  been 
long  ill,  was  thankful  for  advice  with  regard  to  his  bodily 
disorder,  and  his  guests  appeared  right  willing  to  receive  some 
advice  with  respect  to  their  souls. 


1  St.  Thomas's.  p.  264),  and  on  the  10th  to  '  A  Friend  ' 

2  On  April  6  he  wrote  from  Liverpool       on  the  relation  of  the  Methodist  clergy  to 
to  the  Rev.  Mr.  D (  Works,  vol.  xii.       the  Ch.  of  Eng.  (  Works,  vol.  xiii.  p.  232). 


44  8  John    Wesley  s  Journal  'Apmmi. 


Sat.  1 8. — We  were  soon  lost  on  the  mountains,  but  in  an 
hour  we  found  a  cottage  and  a  good  woman,  who  bade  her  son 
'  take  the  galloway  and  guide  them  to  the  fell  foot'  There  we 
met  a  poor  man  just  coming  from  a  doctor,  who,  I  think,  had 
quite  mistaken  his  case.  Perhaps  his  meeting  us  may  save  his 
life.  He  piloted  us  over  the  next  mountain,  the  like  to  which  I 
never  beheld  either  in  Wales  or  Germany.  As  we  were  climb- 
ing the  third  a  man  overtook  us  who  was  going  the  same  road. 
So  he  accompanied  us  till  we  were  in  a  plain,  level  way,  which 
in  three  hours  brought  us  to  Whitehaven.1 

Sun.  19. — I  preached  morning  and  evening  at  the  Gins,2  to 
far  more  people  than  the  house  would  have  contained.  At  one 
I  preached  in  the  assembly-room  at  Workington.  The  whole 
congregation  behaved  well,  though  I  could  not  perceive  that  the 
greater  part  of  them  understood  anything  of  the  matter. 

Wed.  22. — About  noon  I  preached  at  Branthwaite,  and  in 
the  evening  at  Lorton.  Who  would  imagine  that  Deism  should 
find  its  way  into  the  heart  of  these  enormous  mountains?  Yet 
so  it  is.  Yea,  and  one  who  once  knew  the  love  of  God  is  a 
strenuous  advocate  for  it. 

Sat.  25. — As  the  people  at  Whitehaven  are  usually  full  of 
zeal,  right  or  wrong,  I  this  evening  showed  them  the  nature  of 
Christian  zeal.  Perhaps  some  of  them  may  now  distinguish  the 
flame  of  love  from  a  fire  kindled  in  hell. 

Sun.  26. — I  preached  in  the  morning  at  the  Gins,  in  the 
room  at  one,  and  about  five  at  Cockermouth,  on  the  steps  of 
the  market-house.  Even  the  genteel  hearers  were  decent  ; 
many  of  the  rest  seemed  deeply  affected.  The  people  of  the 
town  have  never  been  uncivil.  Surely  they  will  not  always  be 
unfruitful. 

Mon.  27. — I  preached  at  eight  in  the  market-place  at 
Wigton.      The  congregation,   when    I   began,   consisted   of  one 


1  We  can  only  surmise  the  exact  route.  same    district),    Lorton,     Cockermouth. 

It    may    have    been     from    Kendal    to  But  Mr.  Chris.  Graham,  of  Kendal,  sug- 

Staveley,    where   there  is  a    small    inn,  gests  Windermere,  Ambleside,  Langdale, 

The  Fat  Lamb,  which,  from  its  age,  was  over  Wrynose,  Hard  Knott,  to  Boot  and 

no  doubt  in  existence  in  1761.     Thence  Whitehaven — 'a   wild  and  mountainous 

to     Ambleside,     Keswick,    Braithwayte  road.'     See  also  W.H.S.  vol.  vi.  pp.  33-4. 

(Braithwaite  and  Branthwaite,  which  he  '  Once   a  small  village,   it   is  now   a 

visited  on    the    22nd,    are   both    in    the  street  in  Whitehaven,  spelt  '  Ginns.' 


April  i76i.]  A   Scottish    Tour  449 

woman,  two  boys,  and  three  or  four  little  girls,  but  in  a  quarter 
of  an  hour  we  had  most  of  the  town.  I  was  a  good  deal  moved 
at  the  exquisite  self-sufficiency  which  was  visible  in  the  coun- 
tenance, air,  and  whole  deportment  of  a  considerable  part  of 
them.  This  constrained  me  to  use  a  very  uncommon  plainness  of 
speech.     They  bore  it  well.     Who  knows  but  some  may  profit  ? 

Before  noon  we  came  to  Solway  Firth.  The  guide  told  us  it 
was  not  passable,  but  I  resolved  to  try,  and  got  over  well. 
Having  lost  ourselves  but  twice  or  thrice,  in  one  of  the  most 
difficult  roads  I  ever  saw,  we  came  to  Moffat  in  the  evening.1 

Tues.  28. — We  rode  partly  over  the  mountains,  partly  with 
mountains  on  either  hand,  between  which  was  a  clear,  winding 
river,  and  about  four  in  the  afternoon  reached  Edinburgh.  Here 
I  met  Mr.  Hopper,  who  had  promised  to  preach  in  the  evening, 
in  a  large  room,  lately  an  episcopal  meeting-house.2 

Wed.  29. —  It  being  extremely  cold,  I  preached  in  the  same 
room  at  seven.  Some  of  the  reputable  hearers  cried  out  in 
amaze  :  '  Why,  this  is  sound  doctrine  !  Is  this  he  of  whom 
Mr.  Wh[itefield]  used  to  talk  so  ?  '  Talk  as  he  will,  I  shall  not 
retaliate. 

I  preached  again  in  the  evening,  and  the  next  day  rode 
round  by  the  Queen's  Ferry  to  Dundee  3 ;  but,  the  wind  being 
high,  the  boatmen  could  not,  at  least  would  not,  pass.  Nor 
could  we  pass  the  next  day  till  between  nine  and  ten.  We  then 
rode  on  through  Montrose  to  Stonehaven.  Here  Mr.  Memyss 
met  us,  and  on  Saturday  morning  brought  us  to  his  house  at 
Aberdeen.4 


1  For  the  crossing  of  Solway  Firth  Bisset,  in  1 756,  Dr.  Memyss  had  occasion 
see  also  April  15,  1753,  and  June  24,  to  go  to  London,  and  represented  to 
1766.  Mr.   Wesley  the  pressing  need  ...  for 

2  See  E.M.P.  vol.  i.  p.  211  (reprinted  evangelical  preaching  in  Aberdeen,  and 
as  Wesley's  Veterans,  vol.  i.  p.  143).  requested  assistance.    In  response  to  Dr. 

*  Catherine    Lions    was    one   of    the  M.'s  request,  Christopher  Hopper,   who 

earliest    Methodists    in    Dundee   (Arm.  had  been  with  Wesley  in  Edinburgh  on 

Mag.  1786,  p.  137).  Wesley's   first   visit    to   Scotland,    1751, 

4  '  Dr.  Memyss,  who  had  attached  him-  was  sent.      After   forming  a  society  in 

self  to  the  Methodists  in  Wrexham,  settled  Dundee,   Hopper  came  to  Aberdeen  and 

in  Aberdeen  about  1747,  and  became  a  Peterhead.      He  remained  in  Aberdeen 

member  of   the  congregation  under  the  during  the  years  1759-60'  (Sketch  of  Meth. 

charge  of  the  Rev.  John  Bisset,  an  evan-  in  Aberdeen,  by  C.  D.,  1901).  Dr.  Memyss, 

gelical    minister    of   one   of  the   town's  when  a  journeyman  to  an  apothecary  in 

churches.     Soon  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Wrexham,    had  visited,    without    fee  or 


450  John   Wesley  s  Journal  rMayi76i. 

In  the  afternoon  I  sent  to  the  Principal  and  Regent  to  desire 
leave  to  preach  in  the  College  Close.1  This  was  readily  granted, 
but,  as  it  began  to  rain,  I  was  desired  to  go  into  the  hall.  I 
suppose  this  is  full  a  hundred  feet  long,  and  seated  all  around. 
The  congregation  was  large,  notwithstanding  the  rain,  and  full 
as  large  at  five  in  the  morning. 

May  3,  Sun. — I  heard  two  useful  sermons  at  the  kirk,  one 
preached  by  the  Principal  of  the  College,  the  other  by  the 
Divinity  Professor.  A  huge  multitude  afterwards  gathered 
together  in  the  College  Close,  and  all  that  could  hear  seemed  to 
receive  the  truth  in  love.  I  then  added  about  twenty  to  the 
little  society.  Fair  blossoms  !  But  how  many  of  these  will 
bring  forth  fruit  ? 

Mon.  4. — We  had  another  large  congregation  at  five.  Before 
noon  twenty  more  came  to  me  desiring  to  cast  in  their  lot  with 
us,  and  appearing  to  be  cut  to  the  heart. 

About  noon  I  took  a  walk  to  the  King's  College,  in  Old 
Aberdeen.  It  has  three  sides  of  a  square,  handsomely  built,  not 
unlike  Queen's  College  in  Oxford.  Going  up  to  see  the  hall, 
we  found  a  large  company  of  ladies,  with  several  gentlemen. 
They  looked  and  spoke  to  one  another,  after  which  one  of  the 
gentlemen  took  courage  and  came  to  me.  He  said  :  '  We  came 
last  night  to  the  College  Close,  but  could  not  hear,  and  should 
be  extremely  obliged  if  you  would  give  us  a  short  discourse 
here.'  I  knew  not  what  God  might  have  to  do,  and  so  began 
without  delay  on  '  God  was  in  Christ,  reconciling  the  world  unto 
Himself.'  I  believe  the  word  was  not  lost ;  it  fell  as  dew  on  the 
tender  grass. 

In  the  afternoon  I  was  walking  in  the  library  of  the  Marischal 
College  when  the  Principal  and  the  Divinity  Professor  came  to  me,2 


reward,  Thomas  Olivers  when  he  was  '  Principal  George  Campbell,  author 
in  danger  of  death  from  fever,  and  saved  of  A  Dissertation  on  Miracles,  &c. 
his  life.  (E.M.P.  vol.  ii.  pp.  52,  82,  83,  Divinity  Professor  Alexander  Gerard, 
reprinted  as  Wesley's  Veterans,  vol.  i.  D.D.,  author  of  Essay  on  Taste.  Wesley 
pp.201,  235.)  For  an  account  of  Wesley  refers  to  him  below,  Nov.  1,  1787,  and 
in  Aberdeen — more  caricature  than  sober  IVorks,  vol.  xiii.  pp.  477,  478.  See  Bos- 
fact — see  the  Scots  Magazine,  August  well's  Journal  of  a  Tour  in  the  Hebrides 
1763,  quoted  in  W.H.S.  vol.  iv.  p.  159.  with  Dr.  Johnson,  Aug.  23,  1773,  where 
1  Marischal  College,  founded  in  1593  Dr.  Gerard  and  other  Professors  figure 
by  George,  Earl  Marischal,  in  New  prominently  in  conversations  with  '  our 
Aberdeen,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Dee.  Socrates.' 


May  1761. 


A  Scottish   Tour  451 


and  the  latter  invited  me  to  his  lodgings,  where  I  spent  an 
hour  very  agreeably.  In  the  evening  the  eagerness  of  the 
people  made  them  ready  to  trample  each  other  underfoot.  It 
was  some  time  before  they  were  still  enough  to  hear,  but  then 
they  devoured  every  word.  After  preaching,  Sir  Archibald 
Grant  (whom  business  had  called  to  town)  sent  and  desired  to 
speak  to  me.  I  could  not  then,  but  promised  to  wait  upon  him, 
with  God's  leave,  in  my  return  to  Edinburgh. 

Tries.  5. — I  accepted  the  Principal's  invitation,  and  spent 
an  hour  with  him  at  his  house.  I  observed  no  stiffness  at  all, 
but  the  easy  good-breeding  of  a  man  of  sense  and  learning.  I 
suppose  both  he  and  all  the  professors,  with  some  of  the  magis- 
trates, attended  in  the  evening.  I  set  all  the  windows  open,  but 
the  hall,  notwithstanding,  was  as  hot  as  a  bagnio.  But  this  did 
not  hinder  either  the  attention  of  the  people  or  the  blessing 
of  God. 

Wed.  6. — We  dined  at  Mr.  Ogilvie's,  one  of  the  ministers 
between  whom  the  city  is  divided.  A  more  open-hearted, 
friendly  man  I  know  not  that  I  ever  saw.  And  indeed  I  have 
scarce  seen  such  a  set  of  ministers  in  any  town  of  Great  Britain 
or  Ireland. 

At  half-hour  after  six  I  stood  in  the  College  Close  and  pro- 
claimed Christ  crucified.  My  voice  was  so  strengthened  that  all 
could  hear,  and  all  were  earnestly  attentive.  I  have  now  '  cast ' 
my  '  bread  upon  the  waters '  ;  may  I  '  find  it  again  after  many 
days ' ! 

Thur.  7. — Leaving  near  ninety  members  in  the  society,  I 
rode  over  to  Sir  A.  Grant's,  near  Monymusk,  about  twenty  miles 
north-west  from  Aberdeen.  It  lies  in  a  fruitful  and  pleasant 
valley,  much  of  which  is  owing  to  Sir  Archibald's  improvements,1 
who  has  ploughed  up  abundance  of  waste  ground  and  planted 
some  millions  of  trees.  His  stately  old  house  is  surrounded  by 
gardens  and  rows  of  trees,  with  a  clear  river  on  one  side.  And 
about  a  mile  from  his  house  he  has  laid  out  a  small  valley  into 


1  See  below,  June  7,  1764.     Sir  Archi-  North  of  Scotland  '  (Church  and  Priory 

bald  Grant  '  is  said  to  have  planted  about  of  Monymusk,  by  the  Rev.  W.  M.  Mac- 

48,000,000  trees  on  the  property  ;  .  .  .  pherson,   B.D.,  pp.  275,  277,  quoted  in 

he  was  the  first  to  engage  in  those  agri-  Rev.   D.  Butler's  Wesley  and  Whitefield 

cultural  improvements  that  may  be  said  in  Scotland,  p.  134). 
to  have  almost  changed  the  face  of  the 


45 2  John    Wesley  s  [ournal  may  mi. 

walks  and  gardens,  on  one  side  of  which  the  river  runs.  On 
each  side  rises  a  steep  mountain,  one  rocky  and  bare,  the  other 
covered  with  trees,  row  above  row,  to  the  very  top. 

About  six  we  went  to  the  church.  It  was  pretty  well  filled 
with  such  persons  as  we  did  not  look  for  so  near  the  Highlands. 
But  if  we  were  surprised  at  their  appearance,  we  were  much 
more  so  at  their  singing.  Thirty  or  forty  sung  an  anthem  after 
sermon,  with  such  voices  as  well  as  judgement  that  I  doubt 
whether  they  could  have  been  excelled  at  any  cathedral  in 
England. 

Fri.  8. — We  rode  to  Glamis,  about  sixty-four  measured 
miles,  and  on  Saturday  the  9th  about  sixty-six  more,  to  Edin- 
burgh. I  was  tired  ;  however,  I  would  not  disappoint  the 
congregation,  and  God  gave  me  strength  according  to  my  day. 

Sun.  10. — I  had  designed  to  preach  near  the  Infirmary,  but 
some  of  the  managers  would  not  suffer  it.  So  I  preached  in  our 
room  morning  and  evening,  even  to  the  rich  and  honourable. 
And  I  bear  them  witness  they  will  endure  plain  dealing,  whether 
they  profit  by  it  or  not. 

Mon,  11. — I  took  my  leave  of  Edinburgh  for  the  present. 
The  situation  of  the  city,  on  a  hill  shelving  down  on  both  sides, 
as  well  as  to  the  east,  with  the  stately  castle  upon  a  craggy  rock 
on  the  west,  is  inexpressibly  fine.1  And  the  main  street,  so 
broad  and  finely  paved,  with  the  lofty  houses  on  either  hand 
(many  of  them  seven  or  eight  stories  high),  is  far  beyond  any  in 
Great  Britain.  But  how  can  it  be  suffered  that  all  manner  of 
filth  should  still  be  thrown  even  into  this  street  continually? 
Where  are  the  magistracy,  the  gentry,  the  nobility  of  the  land  ? 
Have  they  no  concern  for  the  honour  of  their  nation  ?  How 
long  shall  the  capital  city  of  Scotland,  yea,  and  the  chief  street 
of  it,  stink  worse  than  a  common  sewer  ?  Will  no  lover  of 
his  country,  or  of  decency  and  common  sense,  find  a  remedy 
for  this  ? 

Holyrood  House,  at  the  entrance  of  Edinburgh,  the  ancient 
palace  of  the  Scottish  kings,  is  a  noble  structure.  It  was  rebuilt 
and  furnished  by  King  Charles  the  Second.     One  side  of  it  is  a 


1  Only  the  old  town  was  as  yet  built.  burgh,  '  pretty  perilous,  and  a  good 
A  few  years  later,  Aug.  14,  1773,  Dr.  deal  odoriferous '( Tour  in  the  Hebrides, 
Johnson  walked  the  streets  of  old  Edin-       Percy  Fitzgerald's  Ed.  p.  540). 


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453 


May  i76i.]  In  Northumberland  455 

picture-gallery,  wherein  are  pictures  of  all  the  Scottish  kings 
and  an  original  one  of  the  celebrated  Queen  Mary.  It  is  scarce 
possible  for  any  who  looks  at  this  to  think  her  such  a  monster 
as  some  have  painted  her,  nor  indeed  for  any  who  considers  the 
circumstances  of  her  death,  equal  to  that  of  an  ancient  martyr. 

I  preached  in  the  evening  at  Musselburgh,  and  at  five  in  the 
morning.  Then  we  rode  on  to  Haddington,  where  (the  rain 
driving  me  in)  I  preached  between  nine  and  ten  in  Provost 
Dickson's  parlour.  About  one  I  preached  at  North  Berwick,  a 
pretty  large  town  close  to  the  sea-shore,  and  at  seven  in  the 
evening  (the  rain  continuing)  in  the  house  at  Dunbar. 

Wed.  13. —  It  being  a  fair,  mild  evening,  I  preached  near  the 
quay  to  most  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town,  and  spoke  full  as 
plain  as  the  evening  before.  Every  one  seemed  to  receive  it  in 
love  ;  probably  if  there  was  regular  preaching  here  much  good 
might  be  done. 

TJuir.  14. — I  set  out  early,  and  preached  at  noon  on  the 
bowling-green  at  Berwick-upon-Tweed.  In  the  evening  I 
preached  at  Alnwick.1 

Fri.  15. — Abundance  of  soldiers  came  in,  on  their  way  to 
Germany.  Many  of  these  attended  the  preaching,  to  whom  I 
could  not  but  make  a  particular  application.  And  who  knows 
but  what  they  have  now  heard  may  stand  them  in  stead  in  a  day 
of  trial  ? 

Sat.  16. — One  of  our  friends  importuned  me  much  to  give 
them  a  sermon  at  Warkworth.  And  a  post-chaise  came  for  me 
to  the  door,  in  which  I  found  one  waiting  for  me  whom,  in  the 
bloom  of  youth,  mere  anguish  of  soul  had  brought  to  the  gates 
of  death.  She  told  me  the  troubles  which  held  her  in  on  every 
side,  from  which  she  saw  no  way  to  escape.  I  told  her  '  The 
way  lies  straight  before  you.  What  you  want  is  the  pure  love 
of  God.  I  believe  God  will  give  it  you  shortly.  Perhaps  it  is 
His  good  pleasure  to  make  you,  a  poor  bruised  reed,  the  first 
witness  here  of  that  great  salvation.  Look  for  it  just  as  you  are, 
unfit,  unworthy,  unholy,  by  simple  faith,  every  day,  every  hour.' 
She  did  feel  the  next  day  something  she  could  not  comprehend, 
and  knew  not  what  to  call  it.  In  one  of  the  trials  which  used  to 
sink  her  to  the  earth  she  was  all  calm,  all  peace  and  love,  enjoy- 

1  See  above,  vol.  iii.  p.  362. 


456  John   Wesley  s  Journal  fMayi76i. 


ing  so  deep  a  communion  with  God  as  nothing  external  could 
interrupt.  Ah  !  thou  child  of  affliction,  of  sorrow  and  pain,  hath 
Jesus  found  out  thee  also?  And  He  is  able  to  find  and  bring 
back  thy  husband,  as  far  as  he  is  wandered  out  of  the  way. 

About  noon  I  preached  at  Warkworth  to  a  congregation  as 
quiet  and  attentive  as  that  at  Alnwick.  How  long  shall  we 
forget  that  God  can  raise  the  dead  ?  Were  not  we  dead  till  He 
quickened  us  ? 

A  little  above  the  town,  on  one  side  of  the  river,  stands  the 
remains  of  a  magnificent  castle.  On  the  other  side,  toward  the 
bottom  of  a  steep  hill,  covered  with  wood,  is  an  ancient  chapel, 
with  several  apartments  adjoining  to  it,  hewn  in  the  solid 
rock.  The  windows,  the  pillars,  the  communion-table,  and 
several  other  parts  are  entire.  But  where  are  the  inhabitants  ? 
Gathered  to  their  fathers,  some  of  them,  I  hope,  in  Abraham's 
bosom,  till  rocks,  and  rivers,  and  mountains  flee  away,  and  the 
dead,  small  and  great,  stand  before  God  ! 

Sun.  17. — I  preached  at  eight  in  Alnwick,  and  about  one  at 
Alnmouth — a  poor,  barren  place,  where  as  yet  there  is  no  fruit 
of  all  the  seed  which  has  been  sown.  But  there  may  be,  since 
many  are  still  willing  to  hear. 

In  the  evening  a  multitude  of  people  and  a  little  army  of 
soldiers  were  gathered  in  the  market-place  at  Alnwick.  In  the 
morning  they  were  to  march  for  Germany.  I  hope  some  of  them 
have  put  their  armour  on. 

Mon.  18. — At  nine  I  preached  to  a  large  and  serious 
congregation  at  Widdrington.1  Thence  we  rode  to  Morpeth.2 
As  it  was  a  rainy  day,  they  expected  me  to  preach  in  the 
room,  but,  observing  a  large  covered  place  in  the  market- 
place, I  went  thither  without  delay.  It  was  soon  more  than 
filled  ;  and  many,  soldiers  and  others,  stood  on  the  outside, 
notwithstanding  the  rain.  Why  should  we  despair  of  doing 
good  in  any  place  because  we  do   not  see   present   fruit?      At 


.  .  .  The  tower  of  Widderington  [sic]  -  Thomas  Rankin  gives  an  account  of 

Mother  of  many  a  valiant  son.  Ms  service  {Arm%  Mag,   ,779,  pp.    193, 

_    '    „    *       .,'  '    .      ',.  194),  and  E.M.P.  vol.  v.  pp.  165-8.     He 

Then  did  the  Alne  attention  claim,  ...      .,»,,,  .       i        ■  L  •• 

And     Warkworth,    proud    of    Percy's  dlned  with  Wesley,  and  rode  with  him  to 

name.  —Martnion,  Canto  1 1.  st.  vin.  Newcastle. 


nay i76i.]  A   Story  by  Ephrem  Syrus  457 

five  I  preached  to  the  honest,  simple-hearted  colliers  at  Plessey, 
and  before  sunset  reached  Newcastle. 

Tuesday  the  19th  was  a  day  of  rest.  In  the  evening  God  was 
with  us  of  a  truth,  and  many  felt  their  hearts  burn  with 
fervent  desire  of  being  renewed  in  the  whole  image  of  God. 
The  same  flame  was  kindled  at  Gateshead  Fell  while  I  was 
opening  and  applying  those  words,  '  Every  one  that  hath  this 
hope  in  him,  purifieth  himself,  even  as  He  is  pure.' ' 

T/iur.  21.  —  1  was  much  struck  with  a  story  told  by  Ephrem 
Syrus.  I  wonder  it  was  never  translated  into  English.  It  is 
as  follows  : 

My  beloved  brethren,  I  have  a  desire  to  relate  to  you  what  our 
brother  Abraham  did  in  his  old  age.  This  blessed  man  had  a  brother 
according  to  the  flesh,  who  had  an  only  child.  When  her  father  fell 
asleep  she  remained  an  orphan.  Her  friends  brought  her  to  him, 
being  six  years  old.  He  ordered  her  to  be  placed  in  the  outer  cell :  he 
himself  abode  in  the  inner.  A  little  door  was  between  them.  He  taught 
her  the  Psalms  and  the  other  scriptures,  and  watched  and  sang  with 
her.  And,  as  he  lived  an  austere  life,  so  did  she,  willingly  profiting  in 
every  exercise,  and  labouring  to  excel  in  all  virtues.  The  holy  man 
often  besought  God  for  her  with  tears,  that  her  heart  might  be  fixed  on 
God,  and  not  entangled  with  the  care  of  worldly  things ;  for  her  father 
had  left  her  much  wealth,  which  by  his  advice  she  gave  to  the  poor. 
And  she  entreated  him,  saying,  '  Pray  for  me,  that  I  may  be  delivered 
from  evil  thoughts,  and  from  all  the  wiles  and  snares  of  the  devil.' 
The  blessed  man  rejoiced,  seeing  her  good  conversation,  and  forward- 
ness, and  tears ;  her  lowliness,  meekness,  quietness  of  spirit,  and 
earnest  love  to  God.  And  for  twenty  years  she  thus  exercised  herself 
with  him,  as  a  fair  lamb,  a  spotless  dove. 

When  the  twentieth  year  was  fulfilled,  the  devil  was  mad  against 
her,  and  lay  in  wait  to  get  her  into  his  net.  There  was  a  man,  in  name 
religious,  but  not  in  truth,  who  frequently  came  to  consult  Abraham. 
He  saw  the  maid,  and  his  heart  burned  within  him.  He  lay  in  wait 
for  her  a  whole  year,  till  her  heart  was  inflamed  also ;  and,  opening  the 
door  of  her  cell,  she  went  out  to  him  and  consented  to  his  will.  But 
no  sooner  had  she  committed  wickedness  than  she  rent  her  clothes, 
smote  her  breast,  and  thought  of  putting  an  end  to  her  own  life  ;  for 
she  said  in  herself,  '  Now  I  am  dead,  and  I  have  lost  all  my  time  and 
all  my  labour,  and  my  austerity  and  my  tears  are  perished,  and  I  have 
destroyed  my  own  soul,  and  I  have  brought  sorrow  upon  the  man  of 
God,  and  am  become  a  laughing-stock  to  the  devil :  why  do  I  live  any 

1  He  preached  also  on  the  same  tlay  at  Newcastle. 


458  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [May  mi. 

longer  ?  Ah  me  !  what  have  I  done  !  Ah  me  !  from  whence,  how  low 
am  I  fallen  !  How  shall  I  be  hid  ?  Where  shall  I  go  ?  Into  what 
pit  shall  I  cast  myself?  Where  is  the  exhortation  of  the  blessed  man, 
Keep  thy  soul  spotless  for  thy  immortal  Bridegroom  ?  I  dare  no  more 
look  up  to  heaven !  I  am  lost  both  to  God  and  men.  I  dare  not 
approach  that  holy  man,  sinner  as  I  am,  and  full  of  uncleanness. 
Were  I  to  make  such  an  attempt,  surely  fire  would  come  out  of  that 
door  and  consume  me.  It  is  better  for  me  to  go  where  none  knows 
me  ;  for  I  am  undone,  and  there  is  no  salvation  for  me  ! '  And,  rising 
up,  she  went  straight  to  another  city  and  became  servant  at  an  inn. 

A  little  before  this  Abraham  saw  a  vision — a  dragon,  great  and 
terrible,  rising  out  of  his  place  ;  and,  coming  to  his  cell,  he  found  a 
dove,  and  devoured  it,  and  then  returned  to  his  place.  The  holy  man, 
coming  to  himself,  was  much  troubled,  and  wept  bitterly,  and  said, 
1  Thou,  Lord,  knowest  all  things ;  and  Thou  only  knowest  what  this 
vision  meaneth.'  After  two  days  he  saw  the  same  dragon  again  ;  and 
he  came  out  of  his  place  to  the  blessed  man,  and,  laying  his  head 
under  Abraham's  feet,  burst  asunder,  and  the  dove  was  found  alive  in 
the  dragon's  belly. 

Coming  to  himself,  he  called  once  and  again,  saying,  '  Child,  where 
art  thou  ?  Behold,  here  are  two  days  that  thou  hast  not  opened  thy 
mouth  in  the  praise  of  God.'  Finding  that  none  answered,  and  that 
she  was  not  there,  he  perceived  the  vision  related  to  her ;  and  he 
groaned  in  spirit,  and  said,  '  O  Saviour  of  the  world,  bring  back  this 
lamb  into  Thy  fold,  that  my  grey  hairs  come  not  down  with  sorrow  to 
the  grave !  Lord,  despise  not  my  supplication  ;  but  send  down  Thy 
hand  and  take  her  out  of  the  mouth  of  the  dragon  that  hath  devoured 
her!' 

After  a  season  he  heard  where  she  was,  and,  having  learned  all 
things  concerning  her,  he  called  one  of  his  friends,  and  said  to  him, 
'  Bring  me  a  horse  and  the  habit  of  a  soldier.'  And,  having  put  it  on, 
with  a  large  cap  on  his  head,  he  left  his  cell  and  rode  away.  Being 
come  to  the  place,  he  alighted,  and  went  in ;  and,  after  a  time,  said  to 
the  inn-keeper,  '  Friend,  I  have  heard  thou  hast  a  beautiful  damsel 
here  ;  call  her  to  me,  that  I  may  rejoice  with  her.'  Being  called,  she 
came.  When  the  holy  man  saw  her  in  her  harlot's  attire  he  was 
melting  into  tears  ;  but  he  refrained  himself,  that  she  might  not  perceive 
it.  After  they  sat  down,  she  embraced  him,  and  kissed  his  neck ;  and 
she  smelled  the  smell  of  his  cell,  and  called  to  mind  past  things ;  and, 
groaning  deeply,  said,  '  Woe  is  me  !  What  am  I  ?  '  The  inn-keeper, 
being  astonished,  said,  '  Mary,  thou  hast  now  been  with  us  two  years, 
and  I  never  heard  thee  groan  before,  or  heard  such  a  word  from  thee. 
What  is  come  to  thee?'  She  answered,  'Would  I  had  died  three 
years  since;  then  I  had  been  happy.' 


May  1761. 


In  the  North  459 

Immediately  Abraham  said  to  him,  '  Prepare  us  a  supper,  that  we 
may  rejoice  together  ;  for  I  am  come  from  far  for  her  sake.'  After 
supper  she  said  to  him,  '  Let  us  go  into  the  chamber.'  And,  when  they 
were  come  in,  he  saw  a  bed  made  ready ;  and  he  sat  upon  it,  and 
said,  '  Make  fast  the  door.'  She  made  it  fast  and  came  to  him. 
Having  taken  hold  of  her,  so  that  she  could  not  run  away,  he  took  off 
his  cap  and  said  to  her,  weeping,  '  My  child,  Mary,  dost  thou  not 
know  me  ?  Am  not  I  he  that  brought  thee  up  ?  Mary,  what  is  come 
to  thee  ?  Who  hath  destroyed  thee,  my  daughter  ?  Where  are  thy 
prayers  and  thy  tears,  thy  watching  and  holy  exercise  ?  My  child, 
when  thou  hadst  sinned,  why  didst  thou  not  tell  me,  that  I  might  have 
humbled  myself  for  thee  ?  My  daughter,  why  hast  thou  done  this  ? 
Why  hast  thou  forsaken  thy  father?'  She  remained  in  his  hands  as 
a  lifeless  stone,  till  he  said  to  her  with  tears,  '  Dost  thou  not  speak  to 
me,  my  child,  Mary  ?  Dost  thou  not  speak  to  me  ?  Am  I  not  come 
hither  for  thy  sake  ?  I  have  besought  the  Lord  concerning  thee.' 
Till  midnight  he  continued  exhorting  and  comforting  her.  Then, 
coming  a  little  to  herself,  she  said  to  him,  weeping,  '  I  cannot  look  at 
thee,  for  I  am  defiled  with  sin.'  The  blessed  man  replied,  'On  me  be 
thy  sin ;  only  come,  let  us  go  to  our  place.'  She  said  to  him,  '  If  it 
be  possible  for  me  to  repent,  and  if  God  can  accept  my  repentance,  I 
come,  and  I  fall  down,  and  kiss  thy  steps,  wetting  them  with  my  tears, 
that  thou  hast  thus  had  compassion  on  me,  a  forlorn  wretch,  and  art  come 
hither  to  draw  me  out  of  the  mire  of  sin.'  And,  laying  her  head  at  his 
feet,  she  wept  bitterly  all  the  night ;  saying,  '  What  shall  I  render  thee 
for  all  thy  benefits  ?  ' 

Early  in  the  morning  he  set  her  upon  the  horse,  and  went  before 
her  with  great  joy.  And,  being  come  to  his  place,  he  put  her  in  the 
inner  cell ;  where  she  gladly  resumed  her  former  exercise,  with  sack- 
cloth and  ashes,  and  much  humiliation,  with  mourning,  and  watching, 
and  ceaseless  calling  upon  God  :  and  the  merciful  Lord  gave  her  a  sign 
that  He  accepted  her  repentance,  healing  many  that  were  sick  through 
her  prayers. 

Holy  Abraham  lived  ten  years  after,  beholding  her  good  con- 
versation, and  blessing,  and  praising,  and  magnifying  God.  Then, 
having  lived  seventy  years,  he  slept  in  peace.  Mary  survived  him 
thirty  and  five  years,  calling  upon  God  night  and  day  ;  insomuch  that 
all  who  passed  by  glorified  God,  who  saveth  them  that  were  gone 
astray. 

Among  the  believers,  who  met  in  the  evening,  God  had 
kindled  a  vehement  desire  of  His  full  salvation.  Inquiring 
how   it  v  as  that,  in  all  these  parts,  we  have  scarce  one  living 


460  John   Wesley  s  Journal  may  mi. 

witness  of  this,  I  constantly  received,  from  every  person,  one 
and  the  same  answer  :  '  We  see  now,  we  sought  it  by  our  works  ; 
we  thought  it  was  to  come  gradually  ;  we  never  expected  to 
receive  it  in  a  moment,  by  faith,  as  we  did  justification.'  What 
wonder  is  it,  then,  that  you  have  been  fighting  all  these  years  as 
one  that  beateth  the  air  ? 

Fri.  22. — I  earnestly  exhorted  all  l  who  were  sensible  of 
their  wants,  and  athirst  for  holiness,  to  look  unto  Jesus,  to  come 
to  Him  just  as  they  were,  and  receive  all  His  promises.  And 
surely  it  will  not  be  long  before  some  of  these  also  are  fully 
saved  by  simple  faith. 

Sat.  23. — I  rode  over  to  Plessey.  I  was  wet  through  both 
going  and  coming,  but  I  did  not  repent  of  my  journey  ;  such  a 
number  gathered  together,  a  great  part  of  whom  could  rejoice 
in  God.  These  were  quite  ripe  for  all  the  great  and  precious 
promises,  which  they  received  with  all  gladness. 

Mon.  25. — I  rode  to  Shields  and  preached  in  an  open  place 
to  a  listening  multitude.  Many  of  them  followed  me  to  South 
Shields,  where  I  preached  in  the  evening  to  almost  double  the 
congregation.  How  ripe  for  the  gospel  are  these  also!  What 
is  wanting  but  more  labourers  ? 

More !  Why,  is  there  not  here  (as  in  every  parish  in 
England)  a  particular  minister  who  takes  care  of  all  their  souls  ? 
There  is  one  here  who  takes  charge  of  all  their  souls  ;  what  care 
of  them  he  takes  is  another  question.  It  may  be  he  neither 
knows  nor  cares  whether  they  are  going  to  heaven  or  hell.  Does 
he  ask  man,  woman,  or  child  any  question  about  it  from  one 
Christmas  to  the  next  ?  Oh,  what  account  will  such  a  pastor 
give  to  the  Great  Shepherd  in  that  day  ? 

Tues.  26. — I  went  on  to  Sunderland,  and  in  the  evening 
preached  in  the  new  house.  The  next  evening  I  preached  at 
Monkwearmouth.2 

Thur.  28. — About  noon  I  preached  at  Biddick,  and  the 
power  of  God  was  in  the  midst  of  His  people,  and  more 
eminently  at  Sunderland  in  the  evening.  After  preaching,  I 
met  the  believers  and  exhorted  them  to  '  go  on  unto  perfection.' 3 


1  At  Newcastle.  Booth  (Methodism  in  Sheffield,  p.  159). 

*  And  on  the  27th.     On  May  29  he  s  Rankin  was  present,  and  was  cheered 

wrote    from    Sunderland     to    Elizabeth       when  Wesley  read  some  of  the  letters. 


June  1761.] 


In  the  North  461 


It  pleased  God  to  apply  the  plain  words  which  were  spoken,  so 
that  all  were  athirst  for  Him  ;  objections  vanished  away,  and  a 
flame  was  kindled  almost  in  every  heart. 

Sun.  31. — I  preached  again,  both  morning  and  evening,  in 
Monkwearmouth  church,1  but  it  would  not  near  contain  the 
people,  many  of  whom  were  constrained  to  go  away.  After 
evening  service  I  hastened  to  Newcastle  and  exhorted  a  willing 
multitude  to  '  stand  in  the  ways  and  see '  and  '  ask  for  the  old 
paths  '  and  '  walk  therein.' 

In  the  week  following  I  preached  at  many  little  places  round 
Newcastle.3 

June  5,  Fri. — I  went  to  Prudhoe,  where  there  had  been  some 
jar  in  the  society,  occasioned  by  a  few  who  had  lately  espoused 
and  warmly  defended  a  new  opinion.  I  said  not  one  word  about 
it,  but  preached  on  '  There  is  joy  in  heaven  over  one  sinner  that 
repenteth,  more  than  over  ninety  and  nine  just  persons  who  need 
no  repentance.'  Afterwards,  perceiving  their  hearts  were  much 
softened,  I  met  the  society  and  exhorted  them  to  beware  of 
bitter  zeal,  and  to  '  walk  in  love,  as  Christ  also  loved  us.'  They 
were  ashamed  before  God,  and  (for  the  present  at  least)  their 
contentions  were  at  an  end. 

In  the  evening  I  preached  at  Nafferton,  and  the  next  morn- 
ing rode  to  Winlaton,  where  I  had  appointed  to  be  between 
twelve  and  one.  They  placed  the  stand  exactly  fronting  the 
sun,  which  shone  very  warm  and  very  bright,  but  almost  as  soon 
as  I  began  the  clouds  rose  and  shadowed  us  till  I  concluded.  I 
preached  at  Swalwell  at  five  to  such  a  congregation  as  was  never 
seen  there  before.3 

Mon.  8. — I  rode  to  Hexham  and  preached  at  noon  in  an 
open  place  near  the  church.  Some  expected  there  would  be 
much  disturbance,  but  there  was  none  at  all.     We  rode  thence 


1  The    Rev.    Thomas    Goodday,    the  Mag.     1780,    p.     168.      The    adjoining 

vicar,    lived  next    the   preaching-house,  preaching-room    was     given     up     when 

to  which  he  had  a  private  entrance,  and  Whitburn  Street   Chapel,  the  oldest   in 

was   never  absent    from  the  services  of  Sunderland,  was  built  in  1766. 

even   the   plainest   preacher.      For    the  *  Perhaps,  amongst  others,  in  a  field 

early   history  of   Methodism    in    Monk-  near  Durham  (E.M.P.  vol.  i.  p.  211). 

wearmouth  see  Memoir  of  John  Robin-  3  On  June  7  he  wrote  from  Newcastle 

son  (W.M.  Mag.  1829.  p.    793),  Tyer-  to  Mr.  Hosmer  on  the  perfect  law  ( Works, 

man's  Wesley,  vol.  ii.  p.  335  ;  and  Arm.  vol.  xii.  p.  238). 

VOL.    IV  28 


462  John   Wesley  s  Journal  rjunei76i. 

over  the  mountains  to  Allendale,  where  I  had  not  been  for 
several  years.1  After  preaching  and  meeting  the  society  I 
took  horse  again,  and,  crossing  another  chain  of  mountains, 
reached  Weardale  before  eleven. 

Tues.  9. — I  preached  at  nine,  but  was  obliged  to  stand  abroad 
because  of  the  multitude  of  people.  The  sun  shone  full  in  my 
face,  but  after  having  spent  a  short  time  in  prayer  I  regarded  it 
not.  I  then  met  the  society,  and  came  just  in  time  to  prevent 
their  all  turning  Dissenters,  which  they  were  on  the  point  of 
doing,  being  quite  disgusted  at  the  curate,  whose  life  was  no 
better  than  his  doctrine. 

At  noon  I  preached  in  Teesdale.  Most  of  the  men  are  lead- 
miners,  who  a  while  ago  were  turned  out  of  their  work  for 
following  'this  way.'  By  this  means  many  of  them  got  into 
far  better  work,  and,  some  time  after,  their  old  master  was  glad 
to  employ  them  again. 

We  had  a  long  stage  from  hence  to  Swaledale,2  where  I  found 
an  earnest,  loving,  simple  people,  whom  I  likewise  exhorted  not 
to  leave  the  Church,  though  they  had  not  the  best  of  ministers. 
I  then  baptized  a  man  and  two  women  who  had  been  bred 
among  the  Anabaptists,  and  I  believe  all  of  them  received  such 
a  blessing  therein  as  they  were  not  able  to  express. 

Wed.  10. —  I  took  horse  at  half-hour  past  three,  and  reached 
Barnard  Castle  soon  after  six.  I  preached  at  eight  in  a  ground 
adjoining  to  the  town.  Are  these  the  people  that  a  few  years 
ago 3  were  like  roaring  lions  ?  They  were  now  quiet  as  lambs  ; 
nor  could  several  showers  drive  them  away  till  I  concluded.  In 
the  evening  I  preached  at  Brancepeth,  near  Bishop  Auckland. 
Most  of  the  congregation,  though  I  stood  in  the  street,  were 
deeply  attentive  ;  only  one,  a  kind  of  gentleman,  seemed 
displeased,  but  he  had  none  to  second  him. 

Fri.  12. — We  had  one  of  the  most  solemn  watch-nights  at 
Newcastle  which  we  have  had  for  several  years. 


1  This  was  his  last  visit  (Meth.  Mag.  Gunneiside  {Meth.  Rec.  Winter  No., 
1872,  p.  715).  1900,  p.  25).     The  Spensleys,  of  Blades, 

2  Several  small  societies  had  been  above  Low  Row,  were  Wesley's  hosts  in 
formed  here,  numbering  about  forty  Swaledale.  They  fitted  up  a  cottage  for 
souls.     The   first   cause  was   established  preaching  adjoining  their  house. 

at     Low     Row,     between     Reeth     and  3  See  above,  p.  29. 


June  1761.  From  Sunderland  to  Darlington  463 

Sat.  13. — I  rode  once  more  to  Sunderland  and  preached,  as 
usual,  to  a  numerous  congregation. 

Suti.  14. — After  Mr.  G[oodday]  had  read  prayers  I  spoke 
exceeding  plain  to  as  many  as  could  crowd  into  the  church. 
And  out  of  so  many  that  are  called,  will  not  some  be  chosen  ? 

About  three  I  preached  at  Gateshead  Fell  ;  about  five  at  the 
Garth  Heads,  at  each  place  to  a  larger  congregation  than  I  ever 
saw  there  before.  What  a  change  is  wrought  in  this  whole 
country  !     And  will  it  not  be  wrought  in  the  whole  kingdom  ? l 

Mon.  15. — I  rode  to  Durham,  having  appointed  to  preach 
there  at  noon.  The  meadow 2  near  the  river-side  was  quite 
convenient,  and  the  small  rain  neither  disturbed  me  nor  the 
congregation.  In  the  afternoon  I  rode  to  Hartlepool,  but  I  had 
much  ado  to  preach  ;  my  strength  was  gone  as  well  as  my 
voice  ;  and,  indeed,  they  generally  go  together.  Three  days  in 
a  week  I  can  preach  thrice  a  day  without  hurting  myself,  but  I 
had  now  far  exceeded  this,  besides  meeting  classes  and  exhorting 
the  societies.  I  was  obliged  to  lie  down  good  part  of  Tuesday: 
however,  in  the  afternoon  I  preached  at  Cherington,3  and  in  the 
evening  at  Hartlepool  again,  though  not  without  difficulty. 

Wed.  17. — I  rode  to  Stockton,  where,  a  little  before  the  time 
of  preaching,  my  voice  and  strength  were  restored  at  once.4 
The  next  evening  it  began  to  rain  just  as  I  began  to  preach,  but 
it  was  suspended  till  the  service  was  over.  It  then  rained  again 
till  eight  in  the  morning. 

Fri.  19. — It  was  hard  work  to  ride  eight  miles  (so  called)  in 
two  hours  and  a  half,  the  rain  beating  upon  us  and  the  by-road 
being  exceeding  slippery.  But  we  forgot  all  this  when  we  came 
to  the  Grange,  so  greatly  was  God  present  with  His  people. 
Thence  we  rode  to  Darlington.5  Here  we  were  under  a  difficulty 
again  ;  not  half  the  people  could  come  in,  and  the  rain  forbade 


1  On  June   14  he  wrote  to  his  sister,  4  On  June  17  he  wrote  to  '  a  Member' 

Mrs.  Martha    Hall  (W.A1.  Mag.    1846,  {Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  277). 

p.  1188).  i  John  Manners  names  Mr.  Oswald,  of 

'-'  He    preached    here    several    times,  Darlington  {Arm.   Mag.   1782,   p.    126). 

on  this  occasion  '  to  a  very  large  auditory.'  Wesley  mentions  Darlington  before  this, 

See  E.M.P.  vol.   i.  p.  211    for  Hopper's  but  he  does  not  seem  to  have  preached 

serio-comic  account.  there   until   this  date.     See    Meth.   Rec. 

*  Probably  now  Sheraton  (Mtth.  Rec.  Aug.  16,   1906,  for  the  beginning  of  the 

Feb  27,  1902).  work  in  Darlington. 


464  John   Wesley  s  Journal  (june  1761. 

my  preaching  without.  But  at  one  (the  hour  of  preaching)  the 
rain  stopped, and  did  not  begin  again  till  past  two;  so  the  people 
stood  very  conveniently  in  the  yard,  and  many  did  not  care  to 
go  away.  When  I  went  in  they  crowded  to  the  door  and 
windows  and  stayed  till  I  took  horse.  At  seven  I  preached  at 
Yarm,1  and  desired  one  of  our  brethren  to  take  my  place  in  the 
morning. 

Sat.  20. — At  noon  I  applied  those  words,  '  Now  abide  faith, 
hope,  love  ;  but  the  greatest  of  these  is  love.' 

This  evening  also  it  rained  at  Hutton  Rudby  till  seven,  the 
hour  of  preaching.  But  God  heard  the  prayer,  and  from  the 
time  I  began  we  had  only  some  scattering  drops.  After  sermon 
the  society  alone  filled  the  new  preaching-house,  so  mightily  has 
the  word  of  God  prevailed  since  Alexander  Mather  laboured 
here.2 

Sun.  21. — I  preached  to  a  larger  congregation  than  in  the 
evening  on  '  Behold  what  manner  of  love  the  Father  hath 
bestowed  upon  us,  that  we  should  be  called  the  children  of 
God  ! '  I  then  rode  to  Osmotherley,  where  the  minister  read 
prayers  seriously  and  preached  a  useful  sermon.  After  service 
I  began  in  the  churchyard  ;  I  believe  many  were  wounded  and 
many  comforted.  After  dinner  I  called  on  Mr.  Adams,3  who 
first  invited  me  to  Osmotherley.  He  was  reading  the  strange 
account  of  the  two  missionaries  who  have  lately  made  such  a 
figure — in  the  newspapers.  I  suppose  the  whole  account  is  just 
such  another  gross  imposition  upon  the  public  as  the  man's 
gathering  the  people  together  to  see  him  go  into  the  quart 
bottle.4  '  Men  seven  hundred  years  old  ! '  And  why  not  seven 
yards  high  ?     He  that  can  believe  it  let  him  believe  it. 

At  five  I  preached  at  Potto,  a  mile  from  Hutton.     When  I 


1  Where  he  was  the  guest  of  Mr.  Damascus,  are  700  years  old,  and  are 
George  Merryweather  (Tyerman,  vol.  ii.  sent  by  heaven  to  call  men  to  repentance, 
p.  408).  See  also  above,  p.  329,  and  They  foretell  the  dissolution  of  the  world 
Wesleyan  Methodism  in  Darlington.  in     1771,     understand      Greek,     Latin, 

2  See  E.M.P.  (reprinted  as  Wesley's  Hebrew,  and  Chaldaic,  and  are  sent  to 
Veterans,  vol.  ii.  p.  100).  Rome  for  further  examination'  (Gent.'s 

3  See  above,  vol.  iii.  p.  169.  Mag.  April  17,  1761).     An  entry  of  this, 
*  For  extracts  from  the  public  prints  with  other  details,  is  in  the  Osmotherley 

of  1749    re   this  hoax,  see   W.M.  Mag.  Society     book.       James     Hunton,     the 

Feb.   1909,  p.  133.     'Two  men  arrived  steward  who  makes  the  entry,  adds  :  '  I 

at   Cologne   who   say   they   come    from  believe  it  not.' 


June  i76i.]  At  Guisborough  and  Whitby  465 


began  I  was  extremely  weak,  but  God  renewed  my  strength,  and 
so  applied  His  word  that  it  seemed  as  if  every  one  must  believe 
it.  But  the  Scripture  cannot  be  broken  ;  some  seed  will  still 
fall  'by  the  wayside  '  and  some  'on  stony  ground.' 

Mon.  22. — I  spoke,  one  by  one,  to  the  society  at  Hutton 
Rudby.  They  were  about  eighty  in  number,  of  whom  near 
seventy  were  believers  and  sixteen  (probably)  renewed  in  love. 
Here  were  two  bands  of  children,  one  of  boys  and  one  of  girls, 
most  of  whom  were  walking  in  the  light.  Four  of  those  who 
seemed  to  be  saved  from  sin  were  of  one  family,  and  all  of  them 
walked  holy  and  unblameable,  adorning  the  doctrine  of  God 
their  Saviour. 

At  eleven  I  preached  once  more,  though  in  great  weakness 
of  body,  and  met  the  stewards  of  all  the  societies.  I  then  rode 
to  Stokesley,  and,  having  examined  the  little  society,  went  on 
for  Guisborough.1  The  sun  was  burning  hot,  but  in  a  quarter  of 
an  hour  a  cloud  interposed,  and  he  troubled  us  no  more.  I  was 
desired  by  a  gentleman  of  the  town  to  preach  in  the  market- 
place, and  there  a  table  was  placed  for  me,  but  it  was  in  a  bad 
neighbourhood,  for  there  was  so  vehement  a  stench  of  stinking 
fish  as  was  ready  to  suffocate  me,  and  the  people  roared  like  the 
waves  of  the  sea  ;  but  the  voice  of  the  Lord  was  mightier,  and 
in  a  few  minutes  the  whole  multitude  was  still,  and  seriously 
attended  while  I  proclaimed  '  Jesus  Christ,  made  of  God  unto  us 
wisdom,  and  righteousness,  and  sanctification,  and  redemption.' 

Tues.  23. — I  began  about  five  near  the  same  place,  and  had 
a  great  part  of  the  same  audience  ;  yet  they  were  not  the  same. 
The  change  might  easily  be  read  in  their  countenance.  When 
we  took  horse,  and  just  faced  the  sun,  it  was  hard  work  for  man 
and  beast ;  but  about  eight  the  wind  shifted,  and,  blowing  in  our 
face,  kept  us  cool  till  we  came  to  Whitby. 

In  the  evening  I  preached  on  the  top  of  the  hill,2  to  which 
you  ascend  by  a  hundred,  ninety,  and  one  steps.  The  congre- 
gation was  exceeding  large,  and  ninety-nine  in  a  hundred  were 
attentive.  When  I  began  the  sun  shone  full  in  my  face ;  but 
he  was  soon  clouded,  and  shone  no  more  till  I  had  done. 


1  Jacob  Rowell  was  appointed  to  Yarm       his  superintendency.     It  was  opened  in 
circuit  in  1775.     Thanks   to  his  zeal,  a       1777,  and  still  stands, 
chapel  was  built  at  Guisborough  during  -  Near  the  old  church  and  the  Abbey. 


466  John    Wesley  s  Journal  uunemi. 

After  meeting  the  society  I  talked  with  a  sensible  woman, 
whose  experience  seemed  peculiar.  She  said  :  '  A  few  days 
before  Easter  last  I  was  deeply  convinced  of  sin  ;  and  in  Easter 
week  I  knew  my  sins  were  forgiven,  and  was  filled  with  "joy  and 
peace  in  believing."  But  in  about  eighteen  days  I  was  con- 
vinced, in  a  dream,  of  the  necessity  of  a  higher  salvation  ;  and  I 
mourned  day  and  night,  in  agony  of  desire  to  be  thoroughly 
sanctified,  till,  on  the  twenty-third  day  after  my  justification,  I 
found  a  total  change,  together  with  a  clear  witness  that  the 
blood  of  Jesus  had  cleansed  me  from  all  unrighteousness.' 

Wed.  24. — I  walked  round  the  old  Abbey,  which,  both  with 
regard  to  its  size  (being,  I  judge,  a  hundred  yards  long),  and  the 
workmanship  of  it,  is  one  of  the  finest,  if  not  the  finest,  ruin 
in  the  kingdom.1  Hence  we  rode  to  Robin  Hood's  Bay,  where 
I  preached  at  six  in  the  Lower  Street,  near  the  quay.  In  the 
midst  of  the  sermon  a  large  cat,  frightened  out  of  a  chamber, 
leaped  down  upon  a  woman's  head,  and  ran  over  the  heads  or 
shoulders  of  many  more  ;  but  none  of  them  moved  or  cried  out, 
any  more  than  if  it  had  been  a  butterfly. 

Thur.  25. — I  had  a  pleasant  ride  to  Scarborough,  the  wind 
tempering  the  heat  of  the  sun.  I  had  designed  to  preach  abroad 
in  the  evening ;  but  the  thunder,  lightning,  and  rain  prevented. 
However,  I  stood  on  a  balcony,  and  several  hundreds  of  people 
stood  below  ;  and,  notwithstanding  the  heavy  rain,  would  not 
stir  till  I  concluded. 

Fri.  26. — I  rode  to  Hull,  and  had  there  also  the  comfort  of 
finding  some  witnesses  of  the  great  salvation.  I  was  constrained 
to  leave  them  early  in  the  morning  on  Saturday  the  27th.  At 
seven  I  preached  in  Beverley  ;  about  one  in  Pocklington  ;  and 
at  York,2  in  the  evening,  to  the  far  genteelest  audience  I  have 
had  since  I  left  Edinburgh. 

Mon.  29. —  I  met  the  classes,  and  found  many  therein  who 
were  much  alive  to  God  ;  but  many  others  were  utterly  dead, 
which  sufficiently  accounts  for  the  society's  not  increasing.3 


1  Some  of  the  arches  fell  afterwards :  that   the   seat-rents   amounted    to   .£8  a 

so  it  is  much  smaller  now   than   when  year,  the  monthly  collections  to  $s.  8d. 

Wesley  saw  it.  each,  and   the   class-moneys   to   6s.   6d. 

■  In  Peaseholme  Green  Chapel.  weekly.   The  members  numbered  eighty. 

3  From  the  old  society-books  we  learn  (Tyerman's  Wesley,  vol.  ii.  p.  410.) 


July i76i.]  An  'Execrable   Villany"  467 

JULY  I,  Wed. — The  stewards  met  from  the  societies  in  the 
country.  In  the  evening  we  all  wrestled  with  God  for  the 
revival  of  His  work.  Many  found  their  hearts  much  enlarged 
herein,  and  had  confidence  He  would  answer  the  prayer. 

Thitr.  2. — I  set  out  early  for  North  Cave,  twenty  computed 
miles  from  York.  I  preached  there  at  nine  to  a  deeply  serious 
congregation,  and  was  much  refreshed.  At  two  I  preached  to 
such  another  congregation  at  Thorpe,  and  concluded  the  day  by 
preaching  and  meeting  the  society  at  Pocklington. 

Fri.  3. —  We  returned  to  York,  where  I  was  desired  to  call 
upon  a  poor  prisoner  in  the  Castle.  I  had  formerly  occasion  to 
take  notice  of  a  hideous  monster  called  a  Chancery  Bill  ;  I  now 
saw  the  fellow  to  it,  called  a  Declaration.  The  plain  fact  was 
this.  Some  time  since  a  man  who  lived  near  Yarm  assisted 
others  in  running  some  brandy.  His  share  was  worth  near  four 
pounds.  After  he  had  wholly  left  off  that  bad  work,  and  was 
following  his  own  business,  that  of  a  weaver,  he  was  arrested 
and   sent  to   York  jail  ;    and,   not    long    after,   comes    down    a 

Declaration  '  that  Jac.  VVh had  landed  a  vessel,  laded  with 

brandy  and  Geneva,  at  the  port  of  London  and  sold  them  there, 
whereby  he  was  indebted  to  His  Majesty  five  hundred  and 
seventy-seven  pounds  and  upwards.'  And,  to  tell  this  worthy 
story,  the  lawyer  takes  up  thirteen  or  fourteen  sheets  of  treble- 
stamped  paper. 

O  England,  England  !  will  this  reproach  never  be  rolled 
away  from  thee?  Is  there  anything  like  this  to  be  found, 
either  among  Papists,  Turks,  or  heathens?  In  the  name  of 
truth,  justice,  mercy,  and  common  sense,  I  ask  :  (1)  Why  do  men 
lie  for  lying  sake  ?  Is  it  only  to  keep  their  hands  in  ?  What 
need,  else,  of  saying  it  was  the  port  of  London,  when  every  one 
knew  the  brandy  was  landed  above  three  hundred  miles  from 
thence  ?  What  a  monstrous  contempt  of  truth  does  this  show, 
or  rather  hatred  to  it !  (2)  Where  is  the  justice  of  swelling  four 
pounds  into  five  hundred  and  seventy-seven  ?  (3)  Where  is  the 
common  sense  of  taking  up  fourteen  sheets  to  tell  a  story  that 
may  be  told  in  ten  lines  ?  (4)  Where  is  the  mercy  of  thus  grind- 
ing the  face  of  the  poor  ?  thus  sucking  the  blood  of  a  poor, 
beggared  prisoner  ?  Would  not  this  be  execrable  villany  if  the 
paper  and  writing  together  were  only  sixpence  a  sheet,  when 


468  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [juiy  1761. 

they  have  stripped  him  already  of  his  little  all,  and  not  left 
him  fourteen  groats  in  the  world  ? 

Sun.  5. — Believing  one  hindrance  of  the  work  of  God  in 
York  was  the  neglect  of  field-preaching,  I  preached  this 
morning,  at  eight,  in  an  open  place  near  the  city  walls. 
Abundance  of  people  ran  together,  most  of  whom  were  deeply 
attentive.  One  or  two  only  were  angry,  and  threw  a  few  stones  ; 
but  it  was  labour  lost,  for  none  regarded  them. 

Mori.  6. — I  rode  to  Tadcaster,  and  preached  within,  the  rain 
not  suffering  us  to  be  abroad,  as  I  intended.  In  the  evening  I 
preached  at  Otley,1  and  afterwards  talked  with  many  of  the 
society.  There  is  reason  to  believe  that  ten  or  twelve  of  these 
are  filled  with  the  love  of  God.  I  found  one  or  two  more  the 
next  day  at  Fewston,  a  few  miles  north  of  Otley  (where  I 
preached  at  noon),  whom  God  had  raised  up  to  witness  the  same 
good  confession.  And,  indeed,  the  whole  congregation  seemed 
just  ripe  for  receiving  all  the  promises.2 

Wed.  8. — I  rode  to  Knaresborough,  where  it  was  expected 
we  should  not  meet  with  so  friendly  a  reception  ;  but  the  Lord 
is  King.  Our  own  house  being  too  small,  I  preached  in  the 
assembly-room.  Most  of  the  people  looked  wild  enough  when 
they  came  in  ;  but  they  were  tame  before  they  went  out,  and 
behaved  as  decently  and  seriously  as  the  congregation  at  Otley. 

Indeed,  the  mob  never  was  so  furious  here  as  they  were 
formerly  at  Otley,  where  the  good  magistrate  3  directed,  '  Do 
what  you  will  to  them,  so  you  break  no  bones.'  But  may  not 
a  man  cut  his  neighbour's  throat  without  breaking  his  bones  ? 

The  remaining  part  of  this  week  I  preached  at  Guiseley, 
Bingley,  and  Keighley. 

Sun.  12. — I  had  appointed  to  be  at  Haworth ;  but  the 
church  would  not  near  contain  the  people  who  came  from  all 
sides  ;  however,  Mr.  Grimshaw  had  provided  for  this  by  fixing 
a  scaffold  on  the  outside  of  one  of  the  windows,  through  which 


1  Where  the  Ritchie  family  lived.  also  a  justice  of  the  peace,  encouraged 

2  On  July  7  he  wrote  an  admonitory  the  persecution,  so  that  we  could  have  no 
letter  to  Alexander  Coates  from  Otley  peace  or  quietness,' i.e.  in  Knaresborough. 
( Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  239).  For  Coates  The  persecutor  of  whom  Pawson  writes 
see  Atmore's  Memorial,  p.  75.  must   be   distinguished   from   the    Otley 

8  Pawson  speaks   of  this   persecutor  :  '  good  magistrate.' 
■  The   minister  of  the  place,    who   was 


July  1761  ' 


Mr.   Grimshaw  469 


I  went  after  prayers,  and  the  people  likewise  all  went  out  into 
the  churchyard.  The  afternoon  congregation  was  larger  still. 
What  has  God  wrought  in  the  midst  of  those  rough  mountains ! 

Mon.  13. — At  five  I  preached  on  the  manner  of  waiting  for 
•  perfect  love ' ;  the  rather  to  satisfy  Mr.  Grimshaw,  whom  many 
had  laboured  to  puzzle  and  perplex  about  it.1  So  once  more 
their  bad  labour  was  lost,  and  we  were  more  united  both  in  heart 
and  judgement  than  ever. 

At  noon  I  preached  in  Colne,  once  inaccessible  to  the 
gospel  ;  but  now  the  yard  I  was  in  would  not  contain  the 
people.  I  believe  I  might  have  preached  at  the  Cross  without 
the  least  interruption. 

About  five  I  preached  at  Padiham,  another  place  eminent 
for  all  manner  of  wickedness.  The  multitude  of  people  obliged 
me  to  stand  in  the  yard  of  the  preaching-house.2  Over  against 
me,  at  a  little  distance,  sat  some  of  the  most  impudent  women 
I  ever  saw.  Yet  I  am  not  sure  that  God  did  not  reach  their 
hearts  ;  for 

They  roared,  and  would  have  blushed,  if  capable  of  shame.3 

In  the  morning  I  preeched  at  Bentley  Wood  Green4  on 
'  Be  ye  perfect,  as  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven  is  perfect.' 
Mr.  G[rimshaw]  afterwards  told  me  that  this  perfection  he 
firmly  believed  and  daily  prayed  for,  namely,  the  love  of  God 


1  Grimshaw  had  written  Wesley  apolo-  '  to  be  as  useful  as  I  am  able,  or  is  con- 

gizing     for     not    attending     the    Leeds  sistent   with    my    parochial    and    other 

Conference,    and   stating   the    two  most  indispensable  obligations ;  chiefly  in  this 

material  points  that  threatened  to  sever  round   [circuit]   and   at    times    abroad.' 

his  '  happy  relation '  with  the  Methodist  (Whitehead's    Life   of    Wesley,    vol."  ii. 

connexion — '  imputed  righteousness  '  and  pp.  291-3.)     See  above,  p.  419. 

1  Christian  Perfection?     On  both  points,  2  For  the  '  stealthy  '  building  of  this  in 

so   far  as   Wesley   and   the   Conference  1758  see  B.  Moore's  Burnley  Methodism, 

were  concerned,   he  had  received  satis-  pp.  20,  21.     It  is  now  a  dwelling-house, 

faction.    '  Sinless  perfection,'  a  term  used  John  and  Charles  Wesley  and   William 

by  some  of  the  preachers  but  never  by  Grimshaw    were     among     the     original 

Wesley,  Grimshaw  said,  was  '  a  grating  trustees. 

term— even  to  those  who  are  desirous  to  a  Altered  from  Samuel  Wesley  junr.'s 

be   truly   holy   in    heart   and   life. '     He  Battle  oj  the  Sexes,  stanza  xxv. 

pleads  against  'strange,  fulsome,  offensive,  '  Mr.  W.  Lightfoot  Bunting,  of  Craw- 

unscriptural  expressions  and  representa-  shawbooth,     queries    this     place-name, 

lions.'    But  he  declares  his  determination  He   has   never   heard    of    it.     He    also 

to    continue    in    close    connexion    with  speaks  of  an  Ewood  near  Ramsbottom. 
Wesley  even  unto  death  ;  '  and,'  he  adds, 


47°  John    Wesley's  Journal  rjuiymi. 

and  man   producing  all  those  fruits  which  are  described  in  our 
Lord's  Sermon  upon  the  Mount. 

About  noon  I  preached  at  Bacup,  a  village  in  Rossendale. 
The  new  preaching-house  is  large,  but  not  large  enough  to 
contain  the  congregation.  Soon  after  five  I  preached  at 
Heptonstall.  The  society  here  had  been  greatly  hurt  by  two 
leaders  getting  into  new  opinions.  One  of  them  fell  upon  me 
directly  for  '  denying  the  righteousness  of  Christ.'  On  this  wc 
discoursed  about  an  hour.  The  issue  was,  one  of  them  was 
quite  convinced,  and  the  other  (to  my  no  small  satisfaction) 
desired  me  to  put  a  new  leader  in  his  place. 

Wed.  1 5. — About  seven  I  preached  at  Ewood,  and  about 
noon  at  Halifax.  New  opinions  had  done  harm  here  also  ;  but 
at  this  time  all  was  quiet.  I  rode  over  to  Bradford  in  the 
afternoon,  where  I  found  an  Anabaptist  teacher  1  had  perplexed 
and  unsettled  the  minds  of  several  ;  but  they  are  now  less 
ignorant  of  Satan's  devices.2 

Fri.  17. — I  rode  to  Birstall,  and  was  much  comforted  to  find 
many  of  our  first  children  in  this  county  who  are  not  yet  weary 
of  the  good  old  way.  May  they  continue  therein  unto  the  day  of 
the  Lord  Jesus  ! 

Sat.  18. — At  one  I  preached  at  South  Royd.  The  good 
people  had  placed  the  stand  so  that  the  sun,  which  was  very 
hot,  shone  upon  my  head,  and  the  wind,  which  was  very  cold, 
blew  in  my  neck.  But  it  was  all  one  :  I  was  on  my  Master's 
business  ;  and  great  was  our  rejoicing  in  Him. 

Sun.  19. — I  preached  in  Birstall  room  at  eight.     At  one  we 


'  The  Rev.  W.  Crablree,  minister  of  p.    189),    alluding    to    the   approaching 

the    General    Baptist    Church,    Scruton  wedding  and  Coronation  of  George  III. 

{Old  Bradford,  p.  64).     He  was  a  rigid  The  Rev.  Henry  Venn,  vicar  of  Hudders- 

Calvinist,     and     stoutly     opposed     the  field,  had  spent  the  previous  evening  with 

Arminian       interpretation       of       Holy  him.     A    '  tender  point '   had  arisen   in 

Scripture.       To     his    own     subsequent  Huddersfield.     '  Where  there  is  a  gospel 

regret,  he  was  drawn  into  a  public  con-  ministry   already,  we   do    not  desire   to 

troversy  with  Wesley's  preachers  in  the  preach  ;  but  whether  we   can    leave  off 

town.       He    claimed    the    victory    and  preaching    because   such    a    one    comes 

actually  captured  one  of  his  opponents  ;  after  is  another  question,  especially  when 

but  this,  even   in   his   opinion,  was   no  those  who  were  awakened  and  convinced 

compensation     for     the     bitterness    en-  by  us  beg  and  require  the  continuance  of 

gendered.  our     assistance.'      See  John  Pawson  in 

-  On  July  16  he  preached  at  Bradford,  E.M.P.  vol.  iv.  p.  34. 
and  wrote  to  Blackwell  (  Works,  vol.  xii. 


July i76i.]  In  and  near  Birstall  471 

had  thousands,  the  greatest  part  of  whom  were  persons  '  fearing 
God  and  working  righteousness.'  I  rode  thence  to  Leeds,  in 
order  to  preach  a  funeral  sermon  for  Mary  Shent,  who,  after 
many  severe  conflicts,  died  in  great  peace.  It  was  one  of  the 
largest  congregations  which  has  been  seen  at  Leeds  ;  to  whom 
I  spoke  very  plain  from  part  of  the  Gospel  for  the  day,  '  Give  an 
account  of  thy  stewardship,  for  thou  mayest  be  no  longer 
steward.' 

I  hastened  back  to  the  lovefeast  at  Birstall.1  It  was  the 
first  of  the  kind  which  had  been  there.  Many  were  surprised 
when  I  told  them,  '  The  very  design  of  a  lovefeast  is  free  and 
familiar  conversation,  in  which  every  man,  yea,  and  woman,  has 
liberty  to  speak  whatever  may  be  to  the  glory  of  God.'  Several 
then  did  speak,  and  not  in  vain  ;  the  flame  ran  from  heart  to 
heart,  especially  while  one  was  declaring,  with  all  simplicity,  the 
manner  wherein  God,  during  the  morning  sermon  (on  those 
words,  '  I  will,  be  thou  clean,')  had  set  her  soul  at  full  liberty. 
Two  men  also  spoke  to  the  same  effect ;  and  two  others  who 
had  found  peace  with  God.  We  then  joyfully  poured  out  our 
souls  before  God,  and  praised  Him  for  His  marvellous  works. 

Mon.  20. —  I  came  to  a  full  explanation  with  that  good  man 
Mr.  V[enn].2  Lord,  if  I  must  dispute,  let  it  be  with  the  children 
of  the  devil  !     Let  me  be  at  peace  with  Thy  children  ! 

On  Tuesday,  Wednesday,  and  Thursday  I  preached  at  the 
neighbouring  towns. 

Fri.  24. — In  speaking  from  those  words,  '  In  many  things  we 
offend  all,'  I  observed  (1)  as  long  as  we  live,  our  soul  is 
connected  with  the  body  ;  (2)  as  long  as  it  is  thus  connected  it 
cannot  think  but  by  the  help  of  bodily  organs  ;  (3)  as  long  as 
these  organs  are  imperfect  we  arc  liable  to  mistakes,  both 
speculative  and  practical  ;  (4)  yea,  and  a  mistake  may  occasion 
my  loving  a  good  man  less  than  I  ought  ;  which  is  a  defective, 
that  is,  a  wrong  temper  ;  (5)  for  all  these  we  need  the  atoning 
blood,  as  indeed  for  every  defect  or  omission.  Therefore  (6)  all 
men  have  need  to  say  daily,  '  Forgive  us  our  trespasses.' 


1  See  Stamp's  Methodism  in  Bradford,  '  We   have    amicably   compromised    the 
p.  42.  affair  of  preaching.     He  is  well  pleased 

2  Writing  to  Black  well  on  August  15,  that  the  preachers  should  come  once  a 
1761  (Works,  vol.  xii.  p.   190),  he  says:  month.' 


472  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Jtoyi76i. 

About  one  I  preached  at  Bramley,  where  Jonas  Rushford, 
about  fourteen  years  old,  gave  me  the  following  relation  : 

About  this  time  last  year  I  was  desired  by  two  of  our  neighbours  to 
go  with  them  to  Mr.  Crowther's  at  Skipton,  who  would  not  speak  to 
them,  about  a  man  that  had  been  missing  twenty  days,  but  bid  them 
bring  a  boy  twelve  or  thirteen  years  old.  When  we  came  in,  he  stood 
reading  a  book.  He  put  me  into  a  bed,  with  a  looking-glass  in  my 
hand,  and  covered  me  all  over.  Then  he  asked  me  whom  I  had  a 
mind  to  see ;  and  I  said,  '  My  mother.'  I  presently  saw  her  with  a  lock 
of  wool  in  her  hand,  standing  just  in  the  place,  and  the  clothes  she  was 
in,  as  she  told  me  afterwards.  Then  he  bid  me  look  again  for  the 
man  that  was  missing,  who  was  one  of  our  neighbours.  And  I  looked 
and  saw  him  riding  towards  Idle,  but  he  was  very  drunk  ;  and  he 
stopped  at  the  alehouse  and  drank  two  pints  more,  and  he  pulled  out 
a  guinea  to  change.  Two  men  stood  by,  a  big  man  and  a  little  man  ; 
and  they  went  on  before  him,  and  got  two  hedge-stakes ;  and  when  he 
came  up,  on  Windle  Common,  at  the  top  of  the  hill,  they  pulled  him 
off  his  horse,  and  killed  1  n,  and  threw  him  into  a  coal-pit.  And  I  saw 
it  all  as  plain  as  if  I  was  close  to  them.  And  if  I  saw  the  men,  I 
should  know  them  again. 

We  went  back  to  Bradford  that  night ;  and  the  next  day  I  went 
with  our  neighbours  and  showed  them  the  spot  where  he  was  killed, 
and  the  pit  he  was  thrown  into ;  and  a  man  went  down  and  brought 
him  up.  And  it  was  as  I  had  told  them  :  his  handkerchief  was  tied 
about  his  mouth  and  fastened  behind  his  neck. 

Is  it  improbable  only,  or  flatly  impossible,  when  all  the 
circumstances  are  considered,  that  this  should  all  be  pure 
fiction  ?  They  that  can  believe  this  may  believe  a  man's  getting 
into  a  bottle.1 

From  Bramley  I  rode  to  Kippax.2  Mr.  Venn  came  a  little 
after  we  were  gone  into  the  church.  Mr.  Romaine  read  prayers. 
I  preached  on  '  Christ  crucified,  to  the  Jews  a  stumbling-block, 
and  to  the  Greeks  foolishness.'  Oh  why  should  they  who 
agree  in  this  great  point  fall  out  about  smaller  things  ? 

Sat.  25. — About  one  I  preached  at  Seacroft,  and  found 
several  who  believed  God  had  saved    them  from    sin.     In  the 


1  See  above,  p.  464.     One  of  his  diffi-  of  Kippax,   the  Rev.  Edward  Buckley, 

culties  was  the  credulity  of  the  people.  was  favourable  to  Methodism  and  helped 

-  Mrs.  Medhurst,  Lady  Huntingdon's  to  provide  a  society-house  at  Pontefract. 

friend,  lived  here  :    hence,  probably,  the  See  Met  A.  Rec.  Dec.  17,  1908  (article  on 

presence  of  three  clergymen.     The  vicar  Castleford  Methodism). 


July  1761. 


In  Derbyshire  473 


evening  I  talked  with  twelve  or  fourteen  of  these  particularly  ; 
but  I  found  not  one  who  presumed  to  say  that  he  did  not  need 
the  atoning  blood  :  nor  could  I  hear  of  any  more  than  two 
persons  that  ever  spoke  in  this  manner  ;  and  these  were  soon 
after,  for  that  reason,  expelled  out  of  Otley  society. 

Sun.  26. —  I  preached  at  seven  on  '  Lord,  if  Thou  wilt,  Thou 
canst  make  me  clean.'  And  oh  what  a  flame  did  God  kindle  ! 
Many  were  '  on  fire  to  be  dissolved  in  love.' 

About  one  I  preached  to  the  usual  congregation  at  Birstall. 
What  a  work  is  God  working  here  also !  Six  in  one  class  have, 
within  this  week,  found  peace  with  God  ;  two  this  morning  in 
meeting  the  class.  While  I  was  praying  on  Sunday  evening 
that  God  would  give  us  a  token  for  good,  James  Eastwood  ' 
was  set  at  full  liberty;  as  were  William  Wilson  and  Elizabeth 
his  wife  before,  and  Martha  his  daughter,  with  Agnes  Gooddel, 
on  the  Wednesday  after.  To  these  were  added  Joseph  Newsam, 
and  Richard  Hellewell,  sixteen  years  of  age.  So  that  the  oldest 
of  our  believers  now  cry  out,  '  We  never  saw  it  before  on  this 
fashion  !  ' 

Mon.  27. — I  preached  at  Staincross  about  eleven  ;  about  five 
at  Barley  Hall2;  the  next  morning  at  Sheffield.  In  the 
afternoon  I  rode  on  to  Matlock  Bath.  The  valley  which 
reaches  from  the  town  to  the  bath  is  pleasant  beyond  expression. 
In  the  bottom  of  this  runs  a  little  river,  close  to  which  a 
mountain  rises,  almost  perpendicular,  to  an  enormous  height, 
part  covered  with  green,  part  with  ragged  and  naked  rocks.3 
On  the  other  side,  the  mountain  rises  gradually,  with  tufts  of 
trees  here  and  there.  The  brow  on  both  sides  is  fringed  with 
trees,  which  seem  to  answer  each  other. 

Many  of  our  friends  were  come  from  various  parts.  At  six 
I  preached  standing  under  the  hollow  of  a  rock,  on  one  side  of 
a  small  plain,  on  the  other  side  of  which  was  a  tall  mountain. 
There  were  many  well-dressed  hearers,  this  being  the  high 
season,  and  all  of  them  behaved  well  ;  but  as  I  walked  back, 
a  gentleman-like  man  asked  me,  '  Why  do  you  talk  thus  of 
faith  ?     Stuff,  nonsense  !  '      Upon   inquiry,  I   found  he  was  an 


'  He    appears    to    have   entered    the  -  For  Barley  Hall  see  W.H.S.  vol.  v. 

itinerancy     for    a    year    or    two.      See       p.  97  ;  also  above,  vo    iii.  p.  25. 
Everett's  Methodism  in  Sheffield,  p.  186.  *  Derwent  and  the  High  Tor. 


474  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [Aug.  mi. 

eminent  deist.  What,  has  the  plague  crept  into  the  Peak  of 
Derbyshire  ?  1 

Wed.  29. —  I  preached  at  five  near  the  Bath,2  in  Woodseats  at 
two,  and  in  the  evening  at  the  end  of  the  house  in  Sheffield,  to 
thrice  as  many  people  as  it  would  have  contained.  Thursday 
and  Friday  I  preached  at  Rotherham  in  the  shell  of  the  new- 
house,  which  is  an  octagon.3  Pity  our  houses,  where  the  ground 
will  admit  of  it,  should  be  built  in  any  other  form.  The  congre- 
gation was  larger  than  ever ;  the  society  well  united,  and  much 
alive  to  God. 

AUG.  1,  Sat. — I  rode  to  Clayworth,  and,  after  preaching, 
laboured  all  I  could  to  reconcile  two  brothers,  who  had  long 
been  quarrelling  about  their  inheritance  ;  but  it  was  labour  lost. 
Indeed,  the  reason  of  the  thing  was  clear,  but  passion  is  ever  too 
hard  for  reason. 

Hence  I  went  on  to  Misterton,  and,  both  in  the  evening  and 
morning,  spoke  to  a  lifeless,  money-getting  people  in  a  sharper 
manner  than  ever  I  did  before,  and  (I  heard  afterward)  with 
good  effect. 

Sun.  2. — I  had  the  satisfaction  of  hearing  Mr.  Madan  4  preach 
an  excellent  sermon  at  Haxey.  At  two  I  preached  at  West- 
wood  Side  to  the  largest  congregation  I  ever  saw  in  the  Isle  of 
Axholme,5  and  to  nearly  the  same  at  Epworth  Cross  as  soon  as 
the  church  service  was  ended.6  After  spending  two  days  here, 
on  Wednesday  the  5th  I  preached  about  nine  at  Ferry  and  then 
rode  on  to  Gainsborough.  I  preached  in  the  old  hall '  to  a 
mixed  multitude,  part  civil,  part  rude  as  bears.  We  rode  home 
through  heavy  rain,  joined   with  much  thunder  and   lightning, 


1   Cf.  above,  p.  448  (April  22).  eorder,  Jan.  30,  1902,  and  below,  p.  487. 

1  Matlock  Bath.  4  For  a   description   of  Mr.    Madan's 

3  It  cost  ,£235  ids.  T,r2d.  ;  thesubscrip-  preaching  see  Life  of  the  C.  of  Hunting- 

tions  amounted    to  ^68   14?.,   of  which  don,  vol.  i.  p.  167. 

^20  was  given  by  Valentine  Radley,  a  5  The  isle  is  about  seventeen  miles  in 

currier.     Tyerman  tells  an  amusing  story,  length  and  five  in  breadth.     It  contains 

on  the  authority  of  '  a  manuscript,'  of  an  eight  parishes,  with  about  thirty  hamlets, 

ass  driven  into  the  chapel  by  the  rabble.  It  is  now  only  an  island  in  name,  though 

The  creature  stood   in  the  aisle   gazing  once  surrounded  by  four  rivers, 

up   into  Wesley's  face  until  the  sermon  *  On   Monday  the  3rd  he  preached  at 

closed,  and    then    quietly  walked  away.  North  Scaile. 

See    Rev.   S.J.   Russell's  Methodism   in  '  See    W.H.S.    vol.   iv.    p.    177,    and 

Rotherham,    pp.    20  and  21  ;  ATcth.    Jit-  vol.  vi.  p.  67  ;  also  above,  p.  343. 


Aug.  1761.) 


Iii  Lincolnshire  475 


part  of  which  was  just  over  our  heads.  But  '  the  Lord  sitteth 
above  the  water-floods.'  So  we  came  safe,  only  very  wet,  to 
Epworth. 

Thur.  6. — I  preached  about  nine  at  Hatfield  Woodhouse, 
and  about  one  at  Sykehouse  to  far  the  largest  congregation 
which  has  been  seen  there  for  many  years.  Boast  who  will  that 
-Methodism  (the  revival  of  true  religion)  is  just  coming  to 
nothing  ;  we  know  better  things,  and  are  thankful  to  God  for  its 
continual  increase. 

Sat.  8. — I  preached  at  Winterton  to  such  a  congregation  as 
I  suppose  never  met  there  before.1  From  thence  we  rode  on  to 
Barrow,  where  the  mob  was  in  readiness  to  receive  us  ;  but  their 
hearts  failed,  so  they  gave  only  two  or  three  huzzas  and  let  us 
pass  by  unmolested. 

As  soon  as  I  came  out  to  preach  we  had  another  huzza  ;  but, 
as  more  and  more  of  the  angry  ones  came  within  hearing  they 
lost  all  their  fierceness  and  sank  into  calmness  and  attention. 
So  I  concluded  my  discourse  with  quietness  and  satisfaction. 
In  the  evening  I  preached  at  Grimsby,  where  I  spent  Sunday 
and  Monday. 

Tues.  11. — I  preached  at  two  in  Ludborough  ;  in  the  evening 
at  Llkington.  The  next  morning  we  rode  to  Horncastle,  where 
Satan's  children  had  threatened  terrible  things  ;  but  they  could 
go  no  farther  than  to  give  one  feeble  shout  as  we  entered  into 
the  town.  As  the  house  would  not  contain  the  congregation,  I 
preached  on  the  outside  of  it,  and  there  was  no  disturbance. 
Indeed,  a  silly,  pert  man  spoke  twice  or  thrice,  but  none 
regarded  him. 

About  one  I  preached  at  Sibsey,  on  the  edge  of  the  Fens. 
There  were  a  few  wild  colts  here  also,  but  all  the  rest  (and  the)' 
were   not   a  few)  were   serious   and  deeply  attentive.     So   were 


'  The     Rev.    Canon    J.    T.    Fowler,  him  to  the  Scotch  and  English  Univer- 

of    Durham    University,    recorded    this  sities  and  to  the  Court.     See    W.H.S. 

service  on  a  stone  tablet  affixed  to  the  vol.  i.  p.   85   and  (illustrated)  vol.  viii. 

cottage    of  John   Glover,   in   Winterton,  p.     129  :    Meth.     Mag.     1834,     p.     312. 

North  Lincolnshire,  under  whose  window  The  deed  of  the  first   Methodist  preach- 

y  preached.     Mr.   Fowler's  grand-  ing-house     in     Barton-on-Humber     was 

father  was  a  class-leader  in  the  village —  signed   by   William    Fowler  and   by   the 

an  ingenious  and  laborious  draughtsman  father  of  Richard  Watson  {W.fl.S.  vol.  i. 

and    engraver    whose    work    introduced  p.  139). 


4/6  John    Wesley  s  Journal  tsept. i76i. 

most  of  the  congregation  even  at  Boston,  though  much  astonished, 
as  not  being  used  to  field-preaching. 

Thur.  13. — I  took  a  walk  through  the  town.  I  think  it  is 
not  much  smaller  than  Leeds,  but  in  general  it  is  far  better 
built.  The  church  is  indeed  a  fine  building.  It  is  larger, 
loftier,  nay,  and  rather  more  lightsome  than  even  St.  Peter's  at 
Norwich,  and  the  steeple  is,  I  suppose,  the  highest  tower  in 
England,  nor  less  remarkable  for  the  architecture  than  the 
height.1  The  congregation  in  the  evening  was  far  more 
numerous  than  the  day  before,  and  I  trust  God  fixed  the 
arrows  of  conviction  in  not  a  few  of  their  hearts. 

We  went  forward  after  preaching  at  a  friend's  house  about 
nine  miles  from  Boston. 

Fri.  14. — We  rode  to  Billingford,  and  on  Saturday  to  Nor- 
wich.2 After  spending  a  few  days  here  and  a  few  more  at 
Yarmouth  and  Colchester,  on  Saturday  the  22nd  I  returned 
to  London. 

I  found  the  work  of  God  swiftly  increasing  here.  The  con- 
gregations in  every  place  were  larger  than  they  had  been  for 
several  years.  Many  were  from  day  to  day  convinced  of  sin  ; 
many  found  peace  with  God  ;  many  backsliders  were  healed, 
yea,  filled  with  joy  unspeakable  ;  and  many  believers  entered 
into  such  a  rest  as  it  had  not  before  entered  into  their  hearts  to 
conceive.  Meantime,  the  enemy  was  not  wanting  in  his  endea- 
vours to  sow  tares  among  the  good  seed.  I  saw  this  clearly,  but 
durst  not  use  violence,  lest  in  plucking  up  the  tares  I  should 
root  up  the  wheat  also. 

Sept.  i,  Tues. — Our  Conference  began,3  and  ended  on  Satur- 


1  Boston  (anciently  St.  Botolph's  town)  and  satisfactory  discussion  with  Mr.  Venn 

church  is  said  to  be  the  third  largest  in  {Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  190). 

England.     The  tower,  282  ft.  in  height,  '  The  eighteenth  Conference.  Minutes 

with  octagonal  lantern,  is  a  well-known  seem   to   have   been   taken   by  Thomas 

landmark  for  mariners  in  the  treacherous  Johnson    and    John    Jones,    but     both 

waters  of  the  Wash,  and  is  said  to  have  versions  are  lost.    John  Manners,  writing 

been  built  in  imitation  of  that  of  Ant-  to  Merryweather,  of  Yarm,  describes  it 

werp  Cathedral.      Wesley  ascended  it  on  as   '  the   most    satisfactory   and    solemn 

June  16,  1780.      The  ascent   is   by   364  conference '     held      for     several     years, 

steps.      Here    Foxe   (the   martyrologist)  Whiterield  and  other  clergy  came  several 

was  bom  in  1516.  times  ;  but  more  interesting  to  him  than 

-  On  Aug.  15  he  wrote  from  Norwich  the  Conference  was  the   'glorious  work 

to  Blackwell  referring  to  his  interview  in  London,'  where  '  many  scores  praise 


Oct.  i76i.]  Bristol  and  Kingswood  477 

day.  After  spending  a  fortnight  more  in  London,1  and  guarding 
both  the  preachers  and  people  against  running  into  extremes  on 
the  one  hand  or  the  other,  on  Sunday  the  20th,  at  night,  I  took 
the  machine,  and  on  Monday  the  21st  came  to  Bristol.2 

Here  likewise  I  had  the  satisfaction  to  observe  a  consider- 
able increase  of  the  work  of  God.  The  congregations  were 
exceeding  large,  and  the  people  hungering  and  thirsting  after 
righteousness,  and  every  day  afforded  us  fresh  instances  of 
persons  convinced  of  sin  or  converted  to  God.  So  that  it 
seems  God  was  pleased  to  pour  out  His  Spirit  this  year  on 
every  part  both  of  England  and  Ireland,  perhaps  in  a  manner 
we  have  never  seen  before,  certainly  not  for  twenty  years.  Oh 
what  pity  that  so  many,  even  of  the  children  of  God,  did  not 
know  the  day  of  their  visitation  ! 

OCT.  4,  Sun. — I  preached  at  Kingswood  morning  and  after- 
noon, but  not,  as  I  designed,  under  the  sycamore- tree,  because 
of  the  rain.  In  the  ensuing  week  I  visited  the  societies  in 
Somersetshire. 

Sun.  11. — I  observed  God  is  reviving  His  work  in  Kings- 
wood,  the  society,  which  had  much  decreased,  being  now 
increased  again  to  near  three  hundred  members,  many  of  whom 
are  now  athirst  for  full  redemption,  which  for  some  years  they 
had  almost  forgot. 

Tues.  13. — I  preached  at  Newgate,  at  Kingswood  in  the 
afternoon,  and  in  the  evening  at  North  Common.  Here  a 
people  are  sprung  up,  as  it  were,  out  of  the  earth,  most  of  them 
employed  in  the  neighbouring  brass-works.  We  took  a  view  of 
these  the  next  day,  and  one  thing  I  learned  here,  the  propriety 
of  that  expression,  Rev.  i.  15,  '  His  feet  were  as  fine  brass, 
burning  in  a  furnace.'      The  brightness  of  this   cannot  easily 


God  from  Monday  morning  till  Saturday  Orphan  House  (W.H.S.  vol.  ii.  p.  125). 
night.'  Charles  Wesley,  who  was  not  On  Sept.  27  he  preached  at  Kingswood, 
present,  received  a  letter  from  his  brother  on  Oct.  I  at  Bristol,  on  the  3rd  at  Kings- 
(written  on  the  8th)  with  '  a  secret.'  '  I  wood  and  Bristol,  7th  at  Shepton  Mallet, 
do  not  at  all  think  that  the  work  will  9th  and  nth  at  Kingswood,  12th  at 
ever  be  destroyed,  Church  or  no  Church.'  Bradford,  15th  at  Winterbourne,  16th 
He  ends  with  a  pathetic  appeal  for  liberty  again  at  Winterbourne  and  at  Westbury, 
of  conscience,  and  with  love,  as  usual,  to  and  on  the  18th  at  Bristol. 
'Sally  '  (Tyerman's  Life  of Wesley '.vol.  ii.  '  On  Sept  15  he  preached  at  Deptford 
p.  416  ;  Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  121).  On  '*  And  preached  there  and  at  Kings- 
Sept.  8  he  wrote  to  Mr.  Lowes    at   the  wood  the  same  day. 

VOL.    IV  29 


478  John    Wesley  s  Journal  toctmi. 

be   conceived  ;    I   have    seen    nothing    like    it    but   clear    white 
lightning. 

Mon.  19. — I  desired  all  those  to  meet  me  who  believed  they 
were  saved  from  sin.  There  were  seventeen  or  eighteen.  I 
examined  them  severally  as  exactly  as  I  could,  and  I  could  not 
find  anything  in  their  tempers  (supposing  they  spoke  true)  any 
way  contrary  to  their  profession. 

Wed.  21. — I  was  desired  by  the  condemned  prisoners  to 
give  them  one  sermon  more.1  And  on  Thursday  Patrick  Ward,' 
who  was  to  die  on  that  day,  sent  to  request  I  would  administer 
the  sacrament  to  him.  He  was  one-and-twenty  years  of  age, 
and  had  scarce  ever  had  a  serious  thought  till  he  shot  the 
man  who  went  to  take  away  his  gun.  From  that  instant  he  felt 
a  turn  within,  and  never  swore  an  oath  more.  His  whole 
behaviour  in  prison  was  serious  and  composed.  He  read,  prayed, 
and  wept  much  ;  especially  after  one  of  his  fellow  prisoners  had 
found  peace  with  God.  His  hope  gradually  increased  till  this 
day,  and  was  much  strengthened  at  the  Lord's  Supper ;  but 
still  he  complained,  '  I  am  not  afraid,  but  I  am  not  desirous,  to 
die.  I  do  not  find  that  warmth  in  my  heart.  I  am  not  sure 
my  sins  are  forgiven.'  He  went  into  the  cart,  about  twelve,  in 
calmness,  but  mixed  with  sadness  ;  but  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour, 
while  he  was  wrestling  with  God  in  prayer  (not  seeming  to 
know  that  any  one  was  near  him),  '  the  Holy  Ghost,'  said  he, 
'  came  upon  me,  and  I  knew  that  Christ  was  mine.'  From  that 
moment  his  whole  deportment  breathed  a  peace  and  joy 
beyond  all  utterance,  till,  after  having  spent  about  ten  minutes 
in  private  prayer,  he  gave  the  sign.3 

Sun.  25. — I  took  a  comfortable  leave  of  Kingswood,  leaving 
both  the  society  and  school  in  a  flourishing  state  ;  and  the  next 
morning,  of  Bristol,  leaving  the  society  larger  than  it  had  been 
for  many  years.  Now,  let  zeal  as  well  as  '  brotherly  love 
continue,'  and  it  will  not  decrease  any  more.     Having  travelled 


1  In  the  chapel  at  Newgate,  Bristol.  Pensford,    and    on    the   26th   at   Ham- 

■  A  poacher  hanged  for  murder;  the  brook,  on  Sunday,  Nov.  1,  at  West  Street, 

other  was  John   Cope,   hanged    for   re-  on  the  3rd  at  the  Foundery,  on  the  6th  at 

turning   from    transportation   (Latimer's  West   Street,    on    the  7th  at  Wapping, 

Bristol).  and  on  the  9th  at  West  Street— at  this 

3  On    Oct.    22    Wesley    preached    at  time  a  specially  important  centre. 


Nov.  1761.)  London  and  Canterbury  479 

slowly  through  the  intermediate  societies,  on  Saturday  the  31st 
I  came  to  London. 

Nov.  1,  Sun. — I  found  the  same  spirit  which  I  left  here,  both 
in  the  morning  and  evening  service. 

Mon.  2. — At  five  I  began  a  course  of  sermons  on  Christian 
Perfection  l  ;  at  seven  I  began  meeting  the  classes. 

Tues.  10. — I  found  the  society  at  Deptford  more  alive  than 
ever,  a  sure  consequence  of  which  is  their  increasing  in 
number.1 

Thur.  12. —  I  rode  to  Brentford.  Here  likewise  God  is  at 
work,  and  sinners  are  converted  to  Him. 

Sat.  14. — I  spent  an  hour  with  a  little  company  near 
Grosvenor  Square.  For  many  years  this  has  been  the  darkest, 
driest  spot  of  all  in  or  near  London  ;  but  God  has  now  watered 
the  barren  wilderness,  and  it  is  become  a  fruitful  field. 

Mon.  16. —  I  retired  to  Lewisham,3  having  many  things  to 
write. 

Fri.  20. — I  spent  an  hour  at  St.  George's  Hospital.  The 
behaviour  of  two  or  three  patients  there  had  done  unspeak- 
able good.  Deep  prejudice  was  torn  up  by  the  roots,  and 
much  goodwill  to  the  truth  had  succeeded  it.  Oh  what  may 
not  a  single  believer  do,  who  seeks  nothing  but  the  glory 
of  God  ? 4 

Mon.  23. — I  went  to  Canterbury.  The  congregations  were 
larger  than  I  ever  remember,  and  many  found  a  deeper  work  of 
God  in  their  hearts  than  ever  they  had  known  before. 

Thur.  26. —  I  was  desired  to  read  part  of  Bishop  Pontoppidan's 
Natural  Histoty  oj  Norway?  I  soon  found  he  was  a  man  of 
sense,  yet  credulous  to  an  extreme  ;  and  therefore  I  was  the  less 
surprised  when  1  came  to  his  craken  and  sea-serpent.G     Of  the 


'  These,  doubtless,  prepared  the  way  unnamed  place  in  London  ;  on  the  16th 

for  the  publication  of  Farther  Thoughts  at  Lewisham,  and  again  on  the  22nd. 
on    Christian    Perfection.      See    below,  *  Eric  Pontoppidan,  a  Dane,  was  bishop 

Dec.  21.  of  Bergen,  in  Norway  (1698-1 764).     His 

2  On  Nov.  1 1  he  preached  at  the  Natural  History  of  Norway  took  a  wide 
Foundery.  His  appointment  on  the  13th  range,  from  the  temperature  of  the  air 
is  given  as  'London.'  On  the  14th  he  to  the  manners  of  living  of  the  in- 
preached  at  Snowsfields  as  well  as  habitants.  A  translation  from  the  Danish, 
Grosvenor  Market.  with  plates,  was   published   in  London, 

'  To  Mr.  Blackwell's.  1755,  2  vols,  folio. 

*  On  Nov.   15  he  preached    at    some  •  See  Gentleman's  Mag.  1 82 1,  p.  55. 


480  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [Dec.  i76i. 

former  (an  animal  a  mile  round,  to  which  a  poor  whale  is  no 
more  than  a  gudgeon)  he  gives  no  proof,  or  shadow  of  proof ; 
nothing  but  vague,  uncertain  hearsays.  '  Two  sailors,'  he  says, 
'  made  oath  of  seeing  part  of  the  latter,  seven  or  eight  folds 
of  his  back.  But  I  did  not  talk  with  them  myself ;  so  I  can  lay 
little  stress  on  their  evidence.'  They  might  be  weak  men  ;  they 
might  be  frighted  (yea,  they  were,  by  their  own  confession^  ;  or 
they  might  be  men  of  no  conscience.  On  any  of  which 
suppositions  their  testimony  is  nothing  worth. 

Sat.  28. — We  returned  to  London. 

Sun.  29. — We  had  a  comfortable  lovefeast,  at  which  several 
declared  the  blessings  they  had  found  lately.  We  need  not  be 
careful  by  what  name  to  call  them,  while  the  thing  is  beyond 
dispute.  Many  have,  and  many  do  daily  experience  an 
unspeakable  change.  After  being  deeply  convinced  of  inbred 
sin,  particularly  of  pride,  anger,  self-will,  and  unbelief,  in  a 
moment  they  feel  all  faith  and  love — no  pride,  no  self-will,  or 
anger ;  and  from  that  moment  they  have  continual  fellowship 
with  God,  always  rejoicing,  praying,  and  giving  thanks.  Who- 
ever ascribes  such  a  change  to  the  devil,  I  ascribe  it  to  the  Spirit 
of  God.  And  I  say,  let  whoever  feels  it  wrought,  cry  to  God 
that  it  may  continue  ;  which  it  will,  if  he  walks  closely  with 
God  ;  otherwise  it  will  not. 

Preaching  at  Deptford,  Welling,  and  Sevenoaks,  in  my  way, 
on  Thursday,  DECEMBER  3, 1  came  to  Shoreham.  There  I  read 
the  celebrated  Life  of  St.  Katherine  of  Genoa}  Mr.  Lesley  calls 
one  a  devil  of  a  saint ;  I  am  sure  this  was  a  fool  of  a  saint ;  that 
is,  if  it  was  not  the  folly  of  her  historian,  who  has  aggrandized 
her  into  a  mere  idiot.  Indeed  we  seldom  find  a  saint  of  God's 
making  sainted  by  the  Bishop  of  Rome.  I  preached  at  five  to 
a  small,  serious  company,  and  the  next  day  returned  to  London. 
Mon.  7. — I  rode  to  Colchester,  and  had  the  satisfaction  to 
find  many  of  our  brethren  much  alive  to  God.  After  con- 
firming them,  as  I  could,  in  the  ways  of  God,  on  Thursday  I 
returned  home.2 


'  See    Baring-Gould's    Lives    of    the  '  On    Dec.    10    he    preached    at   the 

Saints,  Sept.    15.      This   saint  must  be  Foundery,  also  on  the  16th  ;  on  the  21st 

distinguished  from  St.  Catharine  of  Sienna  he  preached  at  West  Street,  the  Foundery, 

(April  30),  a  very  different  person.  and  Lewisham. 


Dec  1761.1 


In  London  481 


Sunday  the  13th  was  a  comfortable  day,  wherein  several 
prisoners  were  set  at  liberty. 

Sat.  19. — I  visited  many  near  Oxford  Market  and  Grosvenor 
Square,1  and  found  God  was  still  enlarging  His  work.  More 
and  more  were  convinced,  converted  to  God,  and  built  up, 
day  by  day  ;  and  that  notwithstanding  the  weakness  of  the 
instruments  by  whom  God  was  pleased  to  work. 

Man.  21. — I  retired  again  to  Lewisham,  and  wrote  Farther 
Thoughts  on  Christian  Perfection!2  Had  the  cautions  given 
herein  been  observed,  how  much  scandal  had  been  prevented  ! 
And  why  were  they  not  ?  Because  my  own  familiar  friend  3 
was  even  now  forming  a  party  against  me. 

Fri.  25. — We  began,  as  usual,  at  four.  A  few  days  since, 
one  who  lived  in  known  sin,  finding  heavy  conviction,  broke 
away,  and  ran  out  she  knew  not  whither.  She  met  one  who 
offered  her  a  shilling  a  week  to  come  and  take  care  of  her 
child.  She  went  gladly.  The  woman's  husband,  hearing  her 
stir  between  three  and  four,4  began  cursing  and  swearing 
bitterly.  His  wife  said,  '  I  wish  thou  wouldst  go  with  her,  and 
see  if  anything  will  do  thee  good.'  He  did  so.  In  the  first 
hymn  God  broke  his  heart ;  and  he  was  in  tears  all  the  rest  of 
the  service.  How  soon  did  God  recompense  this  poor  woman 
for  taking  the  stranger  in  !  B 

Sat.  26. — I  made  a  particular  inquiry  .into  the  case  of  Mary 
Special,  a  young  woman  then  in  Tottenham  Court  Road.  She 
said  :  '  Four  years  since  I  found  much  pain  in  my  breasts,  and 
afterwards  hard  lumps.  Four  months  ago  my  left  breast 
broke,  and  kept  running  continually.  Growing  worse  and  worse, 
after  some  time  I  was  recommended  to  St.  George's  Hospital. 
I  was  let  blood  many  times,  and  took  hemlock  thrice  a  day. 
But  I  was  no  better  ;  the  pain  and  the  lumps  were  the  same, 
and  both  my  breasts  were  quite  hard,  and  black  as  soot ;  when, 


1  See  Telford's  Two  West  End  Ch apt h,  and  one  of  his   first    lay   assistants,  for 

pp.  86-8,  and  Curnock's  Hindi  Street,  whom  he  obtained  episcopal  ordination 

p.  12.  from  Bishop  Barnard  of  Derry. 

-  See    Green's    Wesley   Bibliography,  '  To  go  to  the  four  o'clock  service  at 

No.  219     It  was  published  without  name  the  Foundery. 

of  printer  in  1763.  *  On  the  25th    he  preached  at   West 

J  Thomas  Maxtield,  Wesley's  convert  Street  and  the  Foundery. 


482  John   Wesley  s  Journal  rj»n.  1762 

yesterday  se'nnight  I  went  to  Mr.  Owen's,1  where  there  was 
a  meeting  for  prayer.  Mr.  Bell 2  saw  me,  and  asked,  "  Have  you 
faith  to  be  healed  ?  "  I  said,  "  Yes."  He  prayed  for  me,  and  in  a 
moment  all  my  pain  was  gone.  But  the  next  day  I  felt  a  little 
pain  again  ;  I  clapped  my  hands  on  my  breasts,  and  cried  out, 
"  Lord,  if  Thou  wilt,  Thou  canst  make  me  whole."  It  was  gone  ; 
and  from  that  hour  I  have  had  no  pain,  no  soreness,  no  lumps 
or  swelling  ;  but  both  my  breasts  were  perfectly  well,  and  have 
been  so  ever  since.' 

Now  here  are  plain  facts  :  (1)  She  was  ill  ;  (2)  she  is  well ; 
(3)  she  became  so  in  a  moment.  Which  of  these  can  with  any 
modesty  be  denied  ?3 

Tues.  29.  —  In  order  to  remove  some  misunderstandings,  I 
desired  all  parties  concerned  to  meet  me.  They  did  so,  all  but 
T[homas]  M[axfield],4  who  flatly  refused  to  come.  Is  this  only 
the  first  step  toward  a  separation  ?  Alas,  for  the  man  !  Alas, 
for  the  people  ! 5 

T/wt.  31. — We  concluded  the  year,  as  usual,  with  a  solemn 
watch-night.  Oh  may  we  conclude  our  lives  in  the  same  manner, 
blessing  and  praising  God  ! 

1762.  JAN.  1,  Fri. — We  had,  I  believe,  pretty  near  two 
thousand  of  the  society  at  Spitalfields  in  the  evening,  where 
Mr.   Berridge,  Maxfield,6  and    Colley7  assisted    me.     And    we 


1  A  silk-weaver  who  resided  in  New  Meantime,     festina     lente  !  '      (Works, 

Inn  Yard,  Shoreditch.     See  Stevenson's  vol.  xii.  p.  122). 

City  Road  Chapel,  p.  578  ;  also  pp.  182  5  Wesley's   note  :    '  These    were    the 

and  183.  words  I  wrote  at  the  time.' 

1  See  H.  Moore's  Life  of  Wesley,  vol.  ii.  6  Was  it  wise  to  employ  a  man  who, 

p.  222  ;  Tyerman's  Life  Oj  Wesley,  vol.  ii.  as   he   knew,   was  undermining   his   in- 

p.  433  ;  see  also  one  of  Bell's  letters  in  fluence  and  authority? 

Arm.  Mag.  1780,  p.  674.  ~  Rev.  Benjamin  Colley,  of  Tollerton, 

8  On  Dec.  26  he  wrote  from  London  Yorkshire.      He  united   himself  to  the 

to  C.  Wesley  {Works,  vol.  xii.  p.   121)  Methodists  in  1761,  received  Episcopal 

and    to    Miss    Hardy   {Works,  vol.    xii.  ordination,  and  was  invited  by  Wesley  to 

p.  235).  London,  where  he  officiated  as  a  clergy- 

*  Maxfield,  who  headed  a  division  in  man  in  Methodist  chapels.     For  a  time 

the  London  society.     See  Wesley's  letter  he  was  ensnared  by  Bell  and  Maxfield, 

to  his  brother,  Jan.  5,  1762  :  '  If  Thomas  but  restored  and  employed  by  Wesley  at 

Maxfield  continues  as  he  is  it  is  impos-  Newcastle-on-Tyne(Atmore's  Memorial; 

sible  he  should  long  continue   with   us.  see  also  below,  Nov.  8.  1767:   Nov.  5, 

But    I    live   in   hope   of    better   things.  1768  ;  and  Arm.  Mag.  1797,  p.  408). 


Jan.  1762.)  The  Everton  District  483 

found  God  was  in  the  midst,  while  we  devoted  ourselves  to  Him 
in  the  most  solemn  and  explicit  manner. 

Sat.  2. — I  set  out  for  Everton  in  order  to  supply  Mr. 
Berridge's  church  in  his  absence.  In  my  way  I  preached  at 
Road  Farm,1  five-and-forty  miles  from  London.  Afterwards, 
the  moon  shining  bright,  we  had  a  pleasant  ride  to  Everton. 

Sun.  3. — I  read  prayers  and  preached,  morning  and  evening, 
to  a  numerous  and  lively  congregation.  I  found  the  people  in 
general  were  more  settled  than  when  I  was  here  before,  but  they 
were  in  danger  of  running  from  east  to  west.  Instead  of  think- 
ing, as  many  then  did,  that  none  can  possibly  have  true  faith 
but  those  that  have  trances  or  visions,  they  were  now  ready  to 
think  that  whoever  had  anything  of  this  kind  had  no  faith. 

Mon.  4. — After  preaching  to  a  large  congregation  at  Wrest- 
lingworth  we  rode  on  to  Harston.  I  never  preached  a  whole 
sermon  by  moonlight  before.  However,  it  was  a  solemn  season, 
a  season  of  holy  mourning  to  some,  to  others  of  joy  unspeakable. 

Tues.  5. — I  preached  in  Harston  at  nine,  and  about  eleven  at 
Whittlesford,  three  miles  farther,  to  a  people  just  ripe  for  '  Come 
unto  Me,  all  ye  that  are  weary  and  heavy  laden.'  In  the  after- 
noon we  set  out  for  Stoke,  on  the  edge  of  Suffolk.2  As  we  rode 
through  Haverhill  we  were  saluted  with  one  huzza,  the  mob  of 
that  town  having  no  kindness  for  Methodists.  But  all  was  quiet 
at  Stoke,  for  Sir  H[enry]  A[rcher] 3  will  suffer  no  disturbance 
there.  The  congregation  came  from  many  miles  round,  and 
God  was  in  the  midst  of  them.  Their  hearty  prayers  went  up 
on  every  side,  and  many  felt  the  answer  to  them. 

Wed.  6. — The  largeness  of  the  congregation  at  five  showed 
they  were  not  forgetful  hearers.  I  preached  longer  than  I  am 
accustomed  to  do,  but  still  they  were  not  satisfied.  Many 
crowded  after  me  into  the  dwelling-house.  After  speaking  a 
few  words  I  went  to  prayer.  A  cry  began,  and  soon  spread 
through  the  whole  company,  so  that  my  voice  was  lost.  Two 
seemed    to   be   distressed    above    all   the    rest.     We    continued 


1  Near  Biggleswade,  on  the  road  going  3  Henry  Archer,   Kt. ,    mentioned    in 

to  Potton.  Wotton  Musgrave's  Obit.  ;  Henry  Archer 

'-'  And   Essex.     Here  was  a  Benedic-  of    Saffron     Walden,    June    II,     1770. 

tine    Priory    founded    by    Edward    the  Gentleman's  Mag.    1770,    p.    279;  Scots 

Confessor.  Mag.  1770,  p.  385. 


484  John    Wesley  s  Journal  rj&n.  nez. 

wrestling  with  God  till  one  of  them  had  a  good  hope  and  the 
other  was  '  filled  with  joy  and  peace  in  believing.' 

In  the  afternoon  it  blew  a  storm,  by  the  favour  of  which  we 
came  into  Haverhill  quite  unmolested.  But,  notwithstanding 
wind  and  rain,  the  people  crowded  so  fast  into  the  preaching- 
house  that  I  judged  it  best  to  begin  half  an  hour  before  the 
time,  by  which  means  it  contained  the  greater  part  of  them. 
Although  they  that  could  not  come  in  made  a  little  noise,  it  was 
a  solemn  and  a  happy  season. 

Thur.  7. — Abundance  of  them  came  again  at  five  and  drank 
in  every  word.  Here  also  many  followed  me  into  the  house,  and 
hardly  knew  how  to  part.  At  nine  I  preached  at  Steeple  Bump- 
stead,  three  miles  from  Haverhill,  to  a  considerably  larger  con- 
gregation ;  and  all  were  serious.  Hence  we  rode  for  Barkway, 
four  miles  from  Royston.  The  preaching-place  was  exceeding 
large,  yet  it  was  well  filled,  and  the  people  were  wedged  in  as 
close  as  possible.  And  many  of  them  found  that  God  was 
there,  to  their  unspeakable  comfort. 

Hence  we  rode  to  Barley,  where  I  preached  at  one.  A 
middle-aged  woman  dropped  down  at  my  side  and  cried  aloud 
for  mercy.  It  was  not  long  before  God  put  a  new  song  in  her 
mouth.  At  six  in  the  evening  I  preached  at  Melbourne.  Here 
too  God  both  wounded  and  healed.  I  laid  hold,  after  preaching, 
on  a  poor  backslider,  who  quickly  melted  into  tears,  and  deter- 
mined to  return  once  more  to  Him  from  whom  she  had  deeply 
revolted. 

Here  I  talked  at  large  with  one  who  thinks  he  is  renewed  in 
love.  Perhaps  he  is  ;  but  his  understanding  is  so  small,  his 
experience  so  peculiar,  and  his  expressions  so  uncouth,  that  I 
doubt  very  few  will  receive  his  testimony. 

Sat.  9. — I  rode  to  Potton.  What  has  God  wrought  here 
since  I  saw  this  town  twenty  years  ago  !  I  could  not  then  find 
a  living  Christian  therein,  but  wild  beasts  in  abundance.  Now 
here  are  many  who  know  in  whom  they  have  believed,  and  no 
one  gives  us  an  uncivil  word  !  I  preached  at  six  to  a  very 
numerous  and  serious  congregation.  What  have  we  to  do  to 
despair  of  any  person  or  people  ? 

Sun.  10. — I  preached  at  six  in  the  morning  to  nearly  the 
same  congregation.     I  read  prayers  and  preached  morning  and 


Jan.  1762. 


In  Norwich  485 


afternoon  at  Everton,  and  gave  the  sacrament  to  a  large  number 
of  communicants.  At  four  we  took  horse,  and  reached  Grant- 
chester  a  little  before  seven.  Finding  a  little  company  met 
together,  I  spent  half  an  hour  with  them  exceedingly  comfort- 
ably, and,  through  the  blessing  of  God,  I  was  no  more  tired 
when  I  went  to  bed  than  when  I  arose  in  the  morning. 

Mon.  1 1. — The  house  was  thoroughly  filled  at  five,  and  that 
with  serious  and  sensible  hearers.  I  was  sorry  I  had  no  more 
time  at  this  place,  especially  as  it  was  so  near  Cambridge,  from 
whence  many  gentlemen  used  to  come  when  any  clergyman 
preached.  But  my  work  was  fixed,  so  I  took  horse  soon  after 
preaching  and  rode  to  a  village  called  Bottishamlode,  seven 
miles  from  Cambridge.1  Here  a  large  congregation  was  soon 
assembled,  and  I  had  no  sooner  named  my  text,  '  When  they 
had  nothing  to  pay,  he  frankly  forgave  them  both,'  than  a 
murmur  ran  through  the  whole  people,  and  many  of  them 
were  in  tears.  This  concern  increased  as  I  went  on,  so  that 
none  appeared  to  be  unmoved.  One  just  by  me  cried  with  a 
bitter  cry,  but  in  a  short  time  she  shouted  for  joy.  So  did 
several  others,  so  that  it  was  not  easy  to  tell  whether  more  were 
wounded  or  comforted.  Hence  we  rode  to  Lakenheath  and 
passed  a  comfortable  night. 

Tues.  12. — Just  as  we  set  out,  the  storm,  which  had  been  very 
high  all  night,  brought  on  impetuous  rain.  It  was  a  good  pro- 
vidence (1)  that  we  had  now  firm,  sandy  road,  not  clay  and 
miry  fields,  as  yesterday ;  (2)  that  the  wind  was  behind  us, 
otherwise  I  believe  it  would  have  been  impossible  to  go  on.  It 
was  often  ready  to  bear  away  man  and  beast.  However,  in  the 
afternoon  we  came  safe  to  Norwich. 

Wed.  13. — We  rested  from  our  labour.  How  can  they  who 
never  labour  taste  the  sweetness  of  rest  ? 

Fri.  15. —  I  preached  at  Yarmouth. 

Sat.  16. — I  transcribed  the  society  at  Norwich  ;  but  two 
hundred  of  them  I  made  no  account  of,  as  they  met  no  class. 
About  four  hundred  remained,  half  of  whom  appeared  to  be  in 
earnest.2 


1  Wesley  seems  never  to  have  preached       to  C.  Hopper  {Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  305)  ; 

at  Cambridge.  he   refers  to  public  affairs  '  which  look 

;  On  Jan.  18,  he  wrute  from   Norwich       exceeding   dark/     He   urges   the  neces- 


486  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [Feb.  ma. 

Tues.  19. — I  rode  to  Bury  [St.  Edmunds],  and  was  glad  to 
find  a  little  serious  company  still.  But  there  cannot  be  much 
done  here  till  we  preach  abroad,  or  at  least  in  the  heart  of  the 
town.  We  are  now  quite  at  one  end  ;  and  people  will  not  come 
from  the  other  till  they  have  first  '  tasted  the  good  word.' 

Thur.  21. — I  rode  to  Colchester,  and  found  a  quiet,  loving, 
regular  society.  After  spending  a  day  with  them,  on 
Saturday  the  23rd   I  cheerfully  returned  to  London.1 

Wed.  27. — I  had  a  striking  proof  that  God  can  teach  by 
whom  He  zuill  teach.  A  man  full  of  words,  but  not  of  under- 
standing, convinced  me  of  what  I  could  never  see  before,  that 
anima  est  ex  traduce  ;  that  all  the  souls  of  his  posterity,  as  well 
as  their  bodies,  were  in  our  first  parent.2 

Feb.  5,  Fri. — I  met  at  noon,  as  usual,  those  who  believe 
they  are  saved  from  sin,  and  warned  them  of  the  enthusiasm 
which  was  breaking  in,  by  means  of  two  or  three  weak  though 
good  men,  who,  from  a  misconstrued  text  in  the  Revelation, 
inferred  that  they  should  not  die.  They  received  the  warning 
in  much  love.  However,  this  gave  great  occasion  of  triumph  to 
those  who  sought  occasion,  so  that  they  rejoiced  as  though  they 
had  found  great  spoil. 

After  preaching  at  Deptford,  Welling,  and  Sevenoaks,  on 
Tuesday  and  Wednesday  I  rode  on  to  Sir  Thomas  I 'Anson's, 
near  Tunbridge,3  and,  between  six  and  seven,  preached  in  his 


sity  of  establishing   good  order   in   the  are  the  two  others '  (Schaff- Herzog).  John 

Orphan    House.     'Do  just  as  I   would  Wesley   subsequently   inserts   a   lengthy 

do  in  every  instance.  ...  I  hereby  give  it  extract    from    a    letter    received    about 

under  my  hands,  I  will  stand  by  you  with  Oct.  25,  1763,  arguing  strongly  in  favour 

all  my  might '  ;  and,  referring  to  Thomas  of  Traducianism,  in  opposition  to  his  own 

Olivers,  he  says,  '  There  is  good  in  him,  exposition  of  Heb.  xii.  9,  which  seemed 

though  he  is  a  rough  stick  of  wood.'  to  lean  towards  Creationism. 

1  On  Jan.  25  he  wrote  to  the  Rev.  S.  3  There  are  several  references  in  the 

Furly  (see  W.M.Mag.  1865^.984).  Journals  to  New  or  Little   Hounds  and 

-On    Jan.     30    he   wrote    to    'Miss  the  I'Anson  family.     See  Feb.  10,  1762, 

J.  C.  M.'  on  the  direct  witness  of  sins  Feb.  23,  1764,  Dec.  14,  1769,  Dec.   13, 

forgiven  (JVorfa,   vol.  xiii.  p.  48).     On  1774.      New    Bounds   is  a   seat   in   the 

Traducianism  see  note  in  W.H.S.  vol.  v.  parish  of  Southborough,  and  is  so  called 

p.  49.     '  The   soul   is  derived  from  the  to  distinguish  it   from    Old  Bounds,  in 

propagator,'    i.e.    is     not     immediately  the   next   parish   of   Bidborough.      The 

created  by  God  at  every   birth  or  con-  house  was  built  by  Lord    Chief  Baron 

ception.    '  Creationism  denotes  one  of  the  Bury.      Sir  Thomas   I'Anson    and    his 

three  theories  of  the  origin  of  the  human  father,   who   are   buried    in    the   church 

spirit ;   Traducianism   and   pre -existence  at  Tonbridge,  are  styled  Baronets  on  the 


I.    THE    OCTAGON    CHAPEL,    KOTHERHAM    (s<'<     PAGE    474). 

2    AND    3.     INTERIOR    AND    EXTERIOR    OF    NEW    BOUNDS,    THE     RESIDENCE    OF    THE 

I'ANSON    FAMILY. 

\o.  2  ami  3  are  inserted  by  ike  courtesy  0/  the  Rev.  John  Telford,  B.A. 

487 


Feb.  1762.1 


Transcribing  the  Society 


489 


large  parlour,  which  opens  likewise  into  the  hall.  The  plain 
people  were  all  attention.  If  the  seed  be  watered,  surely  there 
will  be  some  fruit. 

Sun.  14. — I  buried  the  remains  of  Thomas  Salmon,1  a  good 
and  useful  man.  What  was  peculiar  in  his  experience  was,  he 
did  not  know  when  he  was  justified  ;  but  he  did  know  when 
he  was  renewed  in  love,  that  work  being  wrought  in  a  most 
distinct  manner.  After  this  he  continued  about  a  year  in 
constant  love,  joy,  and  peace  ;  then,  after  an  illness  of  a  few 
days,  he  cheerfully  went  to  God. 

Monday  the  1 5th,  and  the  following  days,  I  spent  in  tran- 
scribing the  list  of  the  society.  It  never  came  up  before  to  two 
thousand  four  hundred  :  now  it  contains  above  two  thousand 
seven  hundred  members.2 

S/tn.  28. — We  had  a  peculiar  blessing  at  Spitalfields  while 


church  monument.  Wesley's  friend,  Sir 
Thomas,  was  gentleman  porter  of  the 
Tower  of  London.  He  died  in  1773. 
There  seems  to  be  some  uncertainty  as 
to  the  identity  of  the  Mr.  I'Anson  who 
figures  in  the  Journal,  Dec.  14,  1769, 
and  Dec.  13,  1774,  also  in  Charles 
Wesley's  Journal  and  Letters.  It  is 
quite  evident  (see,  for  example,  C.  W., 
Dec.  3,  1753,  J.  W.,  Feb.  21,  1761)  that 
'  Mr.  I'Anson'  acted  as  legal  adviser  to 
the  Wesleys,  in  conjunction,  apparently, 
with  Mr.  Lloyd.  Blackwell  approved 
Mr.  Lloyd  as  '  security '  in  Mrs.  Charles 
Wesley's  affairs.  In  the  John  and  Charles 
Wesley  correspondence,  Mr.  I'Anson,  of 
Xew  Palace  Yard,  Westminster,  figures 
frequently.  The  whole  subject  was  ex- 
haustively investigated  by  the  Rev.  H.  J. 
Foster  and  by  Rev.  F.  F.  Bretherton. 
See  the  latter"s  Early  Methodism  in  and 
around  Chester,  p.  45,  and  W.H.S. 
vol.  v.  pp.  230-7.  The  conclusion  arrived 
at  is  that  the  second  Sir  Thomas  I'Anson 
and  his  brother  Bryan  I'Anson  are  the 
two  with  whom  the  Wesleys  are  con- 
cerned, and  that  possibly  John  I'Anson 
also  came  into  the  circle  of  their  inti- 
macies. See  also  Meth.  Rec.  June  16, 1904. 
1  On  Oct.  24,  1789,  Wesley  wrote  from 
Wallingford  to  Richard  Rodda.     '  Some 


years  since  we  wanted  a  preaching-place 
near  Coleford,  in  Somersetshire.  A 
neighbouring  gentleman,  Mr.  Salmon, 
gave  us  ground  to  build  on,  and  timber 
for  the  house,  and  desired  me  to  use  his 
house  as  my  own.  He  is  now  by  wicked 
men  reduced  to  want.  I  am  informed  a 
master  for  a  poor-house  is  wanted  at 
Manchester.  Pray  inquire,  and,  if  it  be 
so,  leave  no  means  untried  to  procure 
the  place  for  him.'  He  gives  a  number 
of  names,  and  urges  Mr.  Rodda  to  leave 
no  stone  unturned.  '  Join  hands  with 
God,  and  make  a  good  man  live.'  If  this 
Mr.  Salmon  may  be  identified  with  a 
person  of  the  same  name  at  Nantwich, 
as  the  Rev.  H.  J.  Foster  suggested,  an 
interesting  link  is  discovered  between 
Wesley's  early  Oxford  friendships  and  his 
later  work.  Salmon,  a  member  of  the  Holy 
Club,  is  frequently  named  in  the  First 
Diary.  Fifty  years  later  Wesley  de- 
scribed him  as  '  one  of  the  loveliest  young 
men  I  knew.'  It  is  quite  probable  that 
Thomas  Salmon,  whom  he  buried  on 
Fel).  14,  1762,  was  a  member  of  the  same 
family.  See  Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  511  ; 
see  also  below,  April  6,  1779. 

-  On  Feb.  20  he  wrote  to  T.  Rankin 
{Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  320).  'Be  exact  in 
observing  and  enforcing  all  the  rules.' 


49°  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [March  ma. 


I  was  enforcing  '  Now  is  the  day  of  salvation.'  Indeed,  there  is 
always  a  blessing  when  we  cut  off  all  delay,  and  come  to  God 
now  by  simple  faith. 

March  5,  Fri. — I  had  a  long  conversation  with  Joseph  Rule, 
commonly  called  the  White  Quaker.1  He  appeared  to  be  a 
calm,  loving,  sensible  man,  and  much  devoted  to  God. 

Man.  8. — I  retired  to  Lewisham,  to  answer  Dr.  Home's2 
ingenious  '  Sermon  on  Justification  by  Works.'  Oh  that  I 
might  dispute  with  no  man  !  But  if  I  must  dispute,  let  it  be 
with  men  of  sense. 

Thur.  11. — I  buried  the  remains  of  Mary  Ramsey,3  a  true 
daughter  of  affliction,  worn  out  by  a  cancer  in  her  breast,  with 
a  variety  of  other  disorders.  To  these  was  added,  for  a  time, 
great  darkness  of  mind,  the  body  pressing  down  the  soul.  Yet 
she  did  not  murmur  or  repine,  much  less  charge  God  foolishly. 
It  was  not  long  before  He  restored  the  light  of  His  countenance, 
and  shortly  after  she  fell  asleep. 

Fri.  12. — The  National  Fast  was  observed  all  over  London 
with  great  solemnity.  Surely  God  is  well  pleased  even  with 
this  acknowledgement  that  He  governs  the  world  ;  and  even 
the  outward  humiliation  of  a  nation  may  be  rewarded  with 
outward   blessings. 

Mon.  15. — I  left  London,  though  not  without  regret,  and 
went  slowly  through  the  societies  to  Bristol. 

Sat.  27. — I  heard  a  large  account  of  the  children  near 
Lawford's  Gate,  which  has  made  so  much  noise  here.4  The 
facts  are  too  glaring  to  be  denied  ;  but    how    are   they    to  be 


1  In   early   life    a   waterman    on    the  Hutchinson  as  against  Sir  Isaac  Newton. 

Thames.     He  afterwards  associated  him-  His  fame,  however,  rests  exclusively  on 

self  with  the  Society  of  Friends  ;  wore  his  Commentary  on  the  Psalms,  published 

white,  or  undyed  clothing,  and  lived  in  a  in  1776,  a  work  with  which  Wesley  was 

white  cottage.     He  frequently  preached  greatly  pleased.      His  controversy    with 

in  the  streets  of  London,  carrying  a  small  Home   related  to   a  University  sermon, 

white   Bible.      See    W.IJ.S.    vol.  iv.  p.  See  Green's  Anti-Methodist  Publications, 

165.  No.  330. 

-  Now    a    young    man    ot   thirty-two  3  See  Stevenson's    City  Roaa  Chapel, 

years  of  age.     He  subsequently  became  p.  35  (Single  Women  Rand,  12). 
chaplain  to  George  III,  Vice-Chancellor  'II.     Durbin     of      Bristol     wrote    a 

of  Oxford,  Dean  of  Canterbury,  and,  in  posthumous  account  of  these,  the   chil- 

1790,  Bishop   of  Norwich.     See   Tyer-  dren   of  Mr.    Giles,   the   carrier   at    the 

man's  Life  of  Wesley,  vol.ii.  p.  457.     As  Lamb  Inn  in  West  Street.      He  believed 

a  pamphleteer  he  supported  the  views  of  it  to  be  a  case  of  demoniacal  possession. 


March  1762.] 


In  Shropshire  491 


accounted  for  ?     By  natural  or  supernatural  agency  ?     Contend 
who  list  about  this. 

Mon.  29. — I  came  to  the  New  Passage  a  little  before  nine. 
The  rain  and  wind  increased  much  while  we  were  on  the  water  ; 
however,  we  were  safe  on  shore  at  ten.  I  preached  about  twelve 
in  the  new  room  at  Chepstow.  One  of  the  congregation  was  a 
neighbouring  clergyman,  who  lived  in  the  same  staircase  with 
me  at  Christ  Church,  and  was  then  far  more  serious  than  me. 
Blessed  be  God,  who  has  looked  upon  me  at  last !  Now  let  me 
redeem  the  time  ! 

In  the  afternoon  we  had  such  a  storm  of  hail  as  I  scarce 
ever  saw  in  my  life.  The  roads  likewise  were  so  extremely  bad 
that  we  did  not  reach  Hereford  till  past  eight.  Having  been 
well  battered  both  by  hail,  rain,  and  wind,  I  got  to  bed  as  soon 
as  I  could,  but  was  waked  many  times  by  the  clattering  of  the 
curtains.  In  the  morning  I  found  the  casement  wide  open  ;  but 
1  was  never  the  worse.  1  took  horse  at  six,  with  William  Crane 
and  Francis  Walker.  The  wind  was  piercing  cold,  and  we  had 
many  showers  of  snow  and  rain  ;  but  the  worst  was,  part  of  the 
road  was  scarce  passable  ;  so  that  at  Church  Stretton  one  of 
our  horses  lay  down  and  would  go  no  farther.  However,  William 
Crane  and  I  pushed  on,  and  before  seven  reached  Shrewsbury. 

A  large  company  quickly  gathered  together.  Many  of  them 
were  wild  enough,  but  the  far  greater  part  were  calm  and 
attentive,  and  came  again  at  five  in  the  morning. 

Wed.  31. — Having  been  invited  to  preach  at  Wem,  Mrs. 
Glynne :  desired  she  might  take  me  thither  in  a  post-chaise  ; 
but  in  little  more  than  an  hour  we  were  fast  enough.  However, 
the  horses  pulled  till  the  traces  broke.  I  should  then  have 
walked  on  had  I  been  alone,  though  the  mud  was  deep,  and  the 
snow  drove  impetuously  ;  but  I  could  not  leave  my  friend,  so  I 
waited  patiently  till  the  man  had  made  shift  to  mend  the  traces  ; 
and  the  horses  pulled  amain  ;  so  that  with  much  ado,  not  long 
after  the  time  appointed,  I  came  to  Wem. 


'  See   Mrs.    Glynne's    reply    to    Lord  of  God  does  not    grow  cold '   (Moore's 

Hereford    respecting    his    treatment   of  Life  oj  Mrs.  Fletcher,^.  155).    She  was 

Thomas    Olivers     and    the    Methodists  '  cousin '  to  Lord  Hereford.    See  W.H.S. 

(E.M.P.  vol.  ii.  pp.  68-71,  reprinted  as  vol.    iv.     p.    217;     letter    of     Fletcher 

Wesley's    Veterans).     'Mrs.    Glynne   of  to   Mrs.   Glynne   in   Arm.    Mag.     1795, 

Shrewsbury,  whose  love  to  the  children  p.  150. 


492  John   Wesley  s  Journal  (Aprui762. 


I  came  ;  but  the  person  who  invited  me  was  gone — gone  out 
of  town  at  four  in  the  morning,  and  I  could  find  no  one  who 
seemed  either  to  expect  or  desire  my  company.  I  inquired 
after  the  place  where  Mr.  Mather  preached  ;  but  it  was  filled 
with  hemp.  It  remained  only  to  go  into  the  market-house  ; 
but  neither  any  man,  woman,  nor  child  cared  to  follow  us ;  the 
north  wind  roared  so  loud  on  every  side,  and  poured  in  from 
every  quarter.  However,  before  I  had  done  singing,  two  or 
three  crept  in,  and,  after  them,  two  or  three  hundred  ;  and  the 
power  of  God  was  so  present  among  them  that  I  believe  many 
forgot  the  storm. 

The  wind  grew  still  higher  in  the  afternoon,  so  that  it  was 
difficult  to  sit  our  horses  ;  and  it  blew  full  in  our  face,  but 
could  not  prevent  our  reaching  Chester  in  the  evening.  Though 
the  warning  was  short,  the  room  was  full ;  and  full  of  serious, 
earnest  hearers,  many  of  whom  expressed  a  longing  desire  of  the 
whole  salvation  of  God.     Here  I  rested  on  Thursday. 

April  2,  Fri. — I  rode  to  Parkgate  and  found  several  ships, 
but  the  wind  was  contrary.  I  preached  at  five  in  the  small 
house  they  have  just  built,1  and  the  hearers  were  remarkably 
serious.  I  gave  notice  of  preaching  at  five  in  the  morning  ; 
but  at  half-hour  after  four  one  brought  us  word  that  the  wind 
was  come  fair  and  Captain  Jordan  2  would  sail  in  less  than  an 
hour.  We  were  soon  in  the  ship,  wherein  we  found  about 
threescore  passengers.  The  sun  shone  bright,  the  wind  was 
moderate,  the  sea  smooth,  and  we  wanted  nothing  but  room 
to  stir  ourselves — the  cabin  being  filled  with  hops,  so  that  we 
could  not  get  into  it  but  by  climbing  over  them  on  our  hands 
and  knees.  In  the  afternoon  we  were  abreast  of  Holyhead. 
But  the  scene  was  quickly  changed  ;  the  wind  rose  higher  and 
higher,  and  by  seven  o'clock  blew  a  storm.  The  sea  broke  over 
us  continually,  and  sometimes  covered  the  ship,  which  both 
pitched  and  rolled  in  an  uncommon  manner  ;  so  I  was  informed, 
for,  being  a  little  sick,  I  lay  down  at  six  and  slept,  with  little 


1  Probably  the  dismantled  chapel,  now  p.    402).       Wesley's  companions  in  the 

devoted  to  outhouse  purposes,  on  the  hill  journey  were  William  Crane  and  Francis 

between  the  old  town  of  Neston  and  the  Walker.      In    W.H.S.     vol.     v.   p.   76, 

'  once  prosperous  packet-station  of  Park-  there   is  an   interesting   account   ot    the 

gate  (F.  F.  Bretherton).  vessels   in    which  Wesley  sailed  to  Ire- 

-  Captain  of  the  Nonpareil  (see  above,  land. 


Apm  1762.]  Death  of  William   Grimshaw  49; 


intermission,  till  near  six  in  the  morning.  We  were  then  near 
Dublin  Bay,  where  we  went  into  a  boat,  which  carried  us  to 
Dunleary.1  There  we  met  with  a  chaise  just  ready,  in  which  we 
went  to  Dublin. 

1  found  much  liberty  of  spirit  in  the  evening  while  1  was 
enforcing  '  Now  is  the  day  of  salvation.'  The  congregation  was 
uncommonly  large  in  the  morning,  and  seemed  to  be  much 
alive.  Many  children,  I  find,  are  '  brought  to  the  birth.'  And 
shall  there  not  be  strength  to  bring  forth  ? 

It  was  at  this  time  that  Mr.  Grimshaw2  fell  asleep.  He  was  born 
September  3,  1708,  at  Brindle,  six  miles  south  of  Preston,  in  Lancashire, 
and  educated  at  the  schools  of  Blackburn  and  Heskin,  in  the  same 
county.  Even  then  the  thoughts  of  death  and  judgement  made  some 
impression  upon  him.  At  eighteen  he  was  admitted  at  Christ's  College, 
in  Cambridge.  Here  bad  example  so  carried  him  away  that  for  more 
than  two  years  he  seemed  utterly  to  have  lost  all  sense  of  seriousness, 
which  did  not  revive  till  the  day  he  was  ordained  deacon,  in  the  year 
1 731.  On  that  day  he  was  much  affected  with  the  sense  of  the  import- 
ance of  the  ministerial  office,  and  this  was  increased  by  his  conversing 
with  some  at  Rochdale,  who  met  once  a  week  to  read  and  sing  and 
pray.     But  on  his  removal  to  Todmorden  soon  after  he  quite  dropped 


1  Now  Kingstown.  For  this  visit  to  In  the  deed  of  the  Bolton  preaching- 
Dublin  (April  4  to  14)  see  Crookshank's  house  '  a  clause  was  inserted,'  says 
Methodism  in  Ireland,  vol.  i.  pp.  1 55— 6.  Wesley,     'where    Mr.    Grimshaw,    my 

-  Vincent  Perronet,  vicar  of  Shorehani,  brother,    and     I    were    empowered     to 

John  Fletcher,  vicar    of  Madeley,    and  appoint     the     preachers     therein '    (see 

William       Grimshaw,      incumbent       of  above,  p.  32  ;  see  also  the  trust-deeds  of 

Haworth,  were  Wesley's  closest  friends  Market  Street  Lane,  Manchester,  in  the 

among  the  clergy  of  the  English  Church.  Large  Minutes,  1763).    The  appointment 

In  activity,  ardour,  and  intrepidity  Grim-  of  preachers  was  vested  in  '  John  Wes- 

shaw  was  chief.     Wesley,  writing  of  him  ley  .  .  .  after    his   decease   the   trustees 

to    Blackwell,    says  :    '  A    few   such   as  ...  shall    permit   William    Grimshaw, 

him  would  make  a  nation  tremble  ;  he  clerk,  and  such  other  persons  as  he  shall 

carries  fire  wherever  he  goes '  (  Works,  appoint,  and  no  others,  to  have  and  enjoy 

vol.    xii.    p.     190).       The     relation    of  the  said  premises  for  the  purposes  afore- 

Grimshaw  to  Wesley  was  so  close  that  said.'     It  was  not  until  after  the  death  of 

he  built  a  little  chapel  at  Haworth  for  the  last  survivor  of  these  three  that  the 

the    society    and    took    charge    of    the  power     of     appointing     ministers     and 

'  round '  in  which  his  parish  church  was  preachers    under   this   trust    was   to   be 

situated.     He  became    practically   what  exercised   by  the  '  yearly  conference   of 

is  now  called  '  the  superintendent  minister  the  people  called  Methodists.'     See  the 

of  the  circuit.'     In  a  letter  to  Jonathan  Octavo   Minutes,  vol.   i.    pp.  604,   606, 

Maskew   Wesley   mentions  '  Mr.  Grim-  608,     610,     in    the    column    of     Large 

shaw's  circuit '  {Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  255).  Minutes  headed  1763. 


494  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [April  ma. 

his  pious  acquaintance,  conformed  to  the  world,  followed  all  its  diver- 
sions, and  contented  himself  with  '  doing  his  duty  '  on  Sundays. 

But  about  the  year  1734  he  began  to  think  seriously  again.  He 
left  off  all  his  diversions,  he  began  to  catechize  the  young  people,  to 
preach  the  absolute  necessity  of  a  devout  life,  and  to  visit  his  people, 
not  in  order  to  be  merry  with  them  as  before,  but  to  press  them  to  seek 
the  salvation  of  their  souls. 

At  this  period  also  he  began  himself  to  pray  in  secret  four  times  a 
day,  and  the  God  of  all  grace,  who  prepared  his  heart  to  pray,  soon 
gave  the  answer  to  his  prayer.  Not,  indeed,  as  he  expected ;  not  in 
joy  or  peace,  but  by  bringing  upon  him  very  strong  and  painful  convic- 
tions of  his  own  guilt  and  helplessness  and  misery,  by  discovering  to 
him  what  he  did  not  suspect  before,  that  his  heart  was  deceitful  and 
desperately  wicked  ;  and,  what  was  more  afflicting  still,  that  all  his 
duties  and  labours  could  not  procure  him  pardon  or  gain  him  a  title  to 
eternal  life.  In  this  trouble  he  continued  more  than  three  years,  not 
acquainting  any  one  with  the  distress  he  suffered,  till  one  day  (in  1742), 
being  in  the  utmost  agony  of  mind,  there  was  clearly  represented  to 
him  Jesus  Christ  pleading  for  him  with  God  the  Father  and  gaining  a 
free  pardon  for  him.  In  that  moment  all  his  fears  vanished  away,  and 
he  was  filled  with  joy  unspeakable.  '  I  was  now,'  says  he,  '  willing  to 
renounce  myself  and  to  embrace  Christ  for  my  all  in  all.  Oh  what 
light  and  comfort  did  I  enjoy  in  my  own  soul,  and  what  a  taste  of  the 
pardoning  love  of  God  ! ' 

All  this  time  he  was  an  entire  stranger  to  the  people  called  Metho- 
dists, whom  afterwards  he  thought  it  his  duty  to  countenance,  and  to 
labour  with  them  in  his  neighbourhood.  He  was  an  entire  stranger 
also  to  all  their  writings  till  he  came  to  Haworth,  May  26  of  this  year. 
And  the  good  effects  of  his  preaching  soon  became  visible.  Many  of 
his  flock  were  brought  into  deep  concern  for  salvation,  were  in  a  little 
time  after  filled  with  peace  and  joy  through  believing,  and  (as  in  ancient 
times)  the  whole  congregation  have  been  often  seen  in  tears  on  account 
of  their  provocations  against  God,  and  under  a  sense  of  His  goodness 
in  yet  sparing  them. 

His  lively  manner  of  representing  the  truths  of  God  could  not  fail  of 
being  much  talked  of  and  bringing  many  hundreds  out  of  curiosity  to 
Haworth  church,  who  received  so  much  benefit  by  what  they  heard 
that,  when  the  novelty  was  long  over,  the  church  continued  to  be  full 
of  people,  many  of  whom  came  from  far,  and  this  for  twenty  years 
together. 

Mr.  Grimshaw  was  now  too  happy  himself  in  the  knowledge  of 
Christ  to  rest  satisfied  without  taking  every  method  he  thought  likely  to 
spread  the  knowledge  of  his  God  and  Saviour.  And  as  the  very 
indigent  constantly  made  their  want  of  better  clothes  to  appear  in  an 


April  1762.)  William  Grimshaw  495 

excuse  for  not  going  to  church  in  the  daytime,  he  contrived,  for  them 
chiefly,  a  lecture  on  Sunday  evenings,  though  he  had  preached  twice  in 
the  day  before.  God  was  pleased  to  give  great  success  to  these 
attempts,  which  animated  him  still  more  to  spend  and  be  spent  for 
Christ.  So  the  next  year  he  began  a  method,  which  was  continued  by 
him  for  ever  after,  of  preaching  in  each  of  the  four  hamlets  he  had 
under  his  care  three  times  every  month.  By  this  means  the  old  and 
infirm  who  could  not  attend  the  church  had  the  truth  of  God  brought 
to  their  houses,  and  many  who  were  so  profane  as  to  make  the  distance 
from  the  house  of  God  a  reason  for  scarce  ever  coming  to  it  were 
allured  to  hear.  By  this  time  the  great  labour  with  which  he  instructed 
his  own  people,  the  holiness  of  his  conversation,  and  the  benefit  which 
very  many  from  the  neighbouring  parishes  had  obtained  by  attending 
his  ministry,  concurred  to  bring  upon  him  many  earnest  entreaties  to 
come  to  their  houses,  who  lived  in  neighbouring  parishes,  and  expound 
the  word  of  God  to  souls  as  ignorant  as  they  had  been  themselves. 
This  request  he  did  not  dare  to  refuse,  so  that,  while  he  provided 
abundantly  for  his  own  flock,  he  annually  found  opportunity  of  preaching 
near  three  hundred  times  to  congregations  in  other  parts. 

And  for  a  course  of  fifteen  years  or  upwards  he  used  to  preach 
every  week  fifteen,  twenty,  and  sometimes  thirty  times,  besides  visiting 
the  sick  and  other  occasional  duties  of  his  function.  It  is  not  easy  to 
ascribe  such  unwearied  diligence,  chiefly  among  the  poor,  to  any  motive 
but  the  real  one.  He  thought  he  would  never  keep  silence  while  he 
could  speak  to  the  honour  of  that  God  who  had  done  so  much  for  his 
soul.  And  while  he  saw  sinners  perishing  for  lack  of  knowledge,  and 
no  one  breaking  to  them  the  bread  of  life,  he  was  constrained,  notwith- 
standing the  reluctance  he  felt  within,  to  give  up  his  name  to  still 
greater  reproach,  as  well  as  all  his  time  and  strength,  to  the  work  of  the 
ministry. 

During  this  intense  application  to  what  was  the  delight  of  his  heart, 
God  was  exceeding  favourable  to  him.  In  sixteen  years  he  was  only 
once  suspended  from  his  labour  by  sickness  ;  though  he  dared  all 
weathers  upon  the  bleak  mountains,  and  used  his  body  with  less 
compassion  than  a  merciful  man  would  use  his  beast.  His  soul  at 
various  times  enjoyed  large  manifestations  of  God's  love,  and  he  drank 
deep  into  His  Spirit.  His  cup  ran  over ;  and  at  some  seasons  his  faith 
was  so  strong,  and  his  hope  so  abundant,  that  higher  degrees  of 
spiritual  delight  would  have  overpowered  his  mortal  frame. 

In  this  manner  Mr.  Grimshaw  employed  all  his  powers  and  talents, 
even  to  his  last  illness  ;  and  his  labours  were  not  in  vain  in  the  Lord, 
lie  saw  an  effectual  change  take  place  in  many  of  his  flock;  and  a 
restraint  from  the  commission  of  sin  brought  upon  the  parish  in  general. 
He    saw    the   name   of  Jesus   exalted,  and  many  souls  happy  in  the 

VOL.  IV  30 


496  John    Wesley  s  Journal  (Apru  1762. 


knowledge  of  Him,  and  walking  as  became  the  gospel.  Happy  he  was 
himself,  in  being  kept  by  the  power  of  God,  unblameable  in  his  con- 
versation ;  happy  in  being  beloved,  in  several  of  the  last  years  of  his 
life,  by  every  one  in  his  parish  ;  who,  whether  they  would  be  per- 
suaded by  him  to  forsake  the  evil  of  their  ways  or  no,  had  no  doubt 
that  Mr.  Grimshaw  was  their  cordial  friend.  Hence  at  his  departure  a 
general  concern  was  visible  through  his  parish  ;  hence  his  body  was 
interred  with  what  is  more  ennobling  than  all  the  pomp  of  a  royal 
funeral,  for  he  was  followed  to  the  grave  by  a  great  multitude,  with 
affectionate  sighs  and  many  tears,  who  cannot  still  hear  his  much- 
loved  name  without  weeping  for  the  guide  of  their  souls,  to  whom  each 
of  them  was  dear  as  children  to  their  father. 

His  behaviour  throughout  his  last  sickness  was  of  a  piece  with  the 
last  twenty  years  of  his  life.  From  the  very  first  attack  of  his  fever,  he 
welcomed  its  approach.  His  intimate  knowledge  of  Christ  abolished 
all  the  reluctance  nature  feels  to  a  dissolution  ;  and,  triumphing  in 
Him  who  is  the  resurrection  and  the  life,  he  departed,  April  the  7th,  in 
the  fifty-fifth  year  of  his  age,  and  the  twenty-first  of  his  eminent 
usefulness.1 

It  may  not  be  unacceptable  to  subjoin  here  one  of  his  plain,  rough 

letters  to  the  society  in  London  : 

I  Iaworth,  January  9,  1760. 

My  dear  Brethren, 

Grace,  mercy,  and  peace  be  to  you  from  God  our  Father,  and  from 
our  Lord  Jesus.  It  is  well  with  four  sorts  of  people  that  you  have  had,  or 
now  have,  to  do  with.  It  is  well  with  those  of  you  in  Christ  who  are  gone 
to  God  ;  it  is  well  with  those  of  you  in  Christ  who  are  not  gone  to  God  ;  it 
is  well  with  those  who  earnestly  long  to  be  in  Christ,  that  they  may  go  to 
God  ;  it  is  well  with  those  who  neither  desire  to  be  in  Christ  nor  to  go  to 
God.  And  it  is  only  bad  with  such  who,  being  out  of  Christ,  are  gone  to  the 
devil.     These  it  is  best  to  let  alone,  and  say  no  more  about  them. 

But,  to  be  sure,  it  is  well  with  the  other  four.  It  is  well  with  those  of 
you  who,  being  in  Christ,  are  gone  to  God.  You  ministers  and  members 
of  Christ  have  no  more  doubt  or  pain  about  them.  They  are  now,  and  for 
ever,  out  of  the  reach  of  the  world,  flesh,  and  devil.  They  are  gone  '  where 
the  wicked  cease  from  troubling,  and  where  the  weary  are  at  rest.'  They 
are  sweetly  reposed  in  Abraham's  bosom.  They  dwell  in  His  presence  who 
hath  redeemed  them,  where  '  there  is  fullness  of  joy,  and  pleasures  for 
evermore.'     They  are  waiting  the  joyful  morning  of  the  resurrection,  when 


1  Although  this  account  is  inserted  puted  date  see  W.H.S.  vol.  v.  pp.  59,  Co. 
under  1762,  Grimshaw  did  not  die  until  In  Mr.  J.  G.  Wright's  collection  of  old 
1763,  as  Wesley's  'fifty-fifth'  shows.  class-tickets  he  noted  one  with  the  name 
Until  Sept.  3,  1762,  Grimshaw  would  of  the  member  in  Grimshaw's  hand- 
only  be  in  his  fifty-fourth  year.  For  a  writing.  At  the  back  was  a  written 
clear  and  decisive  statement  of  all  the  memorandum,  '  W.  Grimshaw,  died 
facts  which   throw   light   upon  this  dis-  April  7,  1761  '  {W.H.S.  vol.  v.  p.  96). 


April  1762.) 


William  Grimshaw  497 


their  vile  bodies  shall  be  made  like  unto  His  glorious  body,  shall  be  reunited 
to  their  souls,  shall  receive  the  joyful  sentence,  and  inherit  the  kingdom 
prepared  for  them  from  the  foundation  of  the  world. 

It  is  well  also  with  those  of  you  who  are  in  Christ,  though  not  gone  to  God. 
You  live  next  door  to  them.  Heaven  is  begun  with  you  too.  The  kingdom 
of  God  is  within  you.  You  feel  it.  This  is  a  kingdom  of  righteousness, 
and  peace,  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost.  It  is  begun  in  grace,  and  shall 
terminate  in  glory.  Yea,  it  is  '  Christ  within  you,  the  hope  of  glory.'  Christ 
the  rock,  the  foundation,  laid  in  your  hearts.  Hope  in  the  middle,  and 
glory  at  the  top.  Christ,  hope,  glory  ;  Christ,  hope,  glory.  You  are  washed 
in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb,  justified,  sanctified,  and  shall  shortly  be  glorified. 
Yea,  your  lives  are  already  '  hid  with  Christ  in  God.'  You  have  your  con- 
versation already  in  heaven.  Already  you  '  sit  in  heavenly  places  in  Christ 
Jesus.'  What  heavenly  sentences  are  these  !  What  can  come  nearer 
Paradise  ?  Bless  the  Lord,  O  ye  happy  souls,  and  let  all  that  is  within  you 
bless  His  holy  name.  Sing  unto  the  Lord  so  long  as  you  live,  and  praise 
your  God  while  you  have  your  being.  And  how  long  will  that  be  ?  Through 
the  endless  ages  of  a  glorious  eternity. 

Oh  my  dear  brothers  and  sisters,  this  is  my  hope,  and  this  is  my 
purpose.  But  to  whom  and  to  what  are  we  indebted  for  all  this,  and 
infinitely  more  than  all  the  tongues  and  hearts  of  men  or  angels  can  tell  or 
conceive  ?  To  our  Redeemer  only,  and  to  His  merits.  Christ  within  us  is 
Jesus  to  us.  We  were  poor,  lost,  helpless  sinners,  'aliens  from  the  common- 
wealth of  Israel,' and 'children  of  wrath';  but  Jesus  lived  and  Jesus  died, 
the  just  for  the  unjust,  to  bring  us  to  the  enjoyment  of  it. 

And  what  does  all  this  require  at  our  hands  ?  Why,  infinitely  more  than 
we  can  render  Him  to  all  eternity.  However,  let  us  praise  and  glorify  God 
in  the  best  manner,  and  with  the  best  member  that  we  have.  Let  us  do  it 
constantly,  cordially,  cheerfully,  so  long  as  we  live  ;  and  then,  no  doubt,  we 
shall  do  it  in  heaven  for  ever. 

Keep  close,  I  beseech  you,  to  every  means  of  grace.  Strive  to  walk  in 
all  the  ordinances  and  commandments  of  God  blameless,  'giving  all 
diligence  to  make  your  calling  and  election  sure.  Add  to  your  faith  virtue  ; 
to  virtue  knowledge  ;  to  knowledge  temperance  ;  to  temperance  patience  ; 
to  patience  godliness  ;  to  godliness  brotherly  kindness  ;  to  brotherly  kind- 
ness charity.'  For  '  if  these  things,'  says  St.  Peter,  '  be  in  you,  and  abound, 
they  make  you  that  you  shall  neither  be  barren  nor  unfruitful  in  the 
knowledge  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.'  Thus  you  will  give  the  best  token  of 
your  thankfulness  to  Him  for  what  He  hath  done  for  your  souls  ;  and  you 
shall,  not  long  hence,  in  heaven  sing  His  praise  with  your  happy  brethren, 
gone  thither  before  you. 

It  is  well,  likewise,  with  all  those  of  you  who  do  truly  desire  to  be  in 
Christ,  that  you  may  go  to  God.  Surely  He  owns  you  ;  your  desires  are 
from  Him  ;  you  shall  enjoy  His  favour.  By-and-by  you  shall  have  peace 
with  Him  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Go  forth  by  the  footsteps  of  the 
flock,  and  feed  ye  by  the  Shepherd's  tents.  Be  constant  in  every  means  of 
grace.  He  will  be  found  of  them  that  diligently  seek  Him.  '  Blessed  are 
they  that  mourn,  for  they  shall  be  comforted.'  Though  your  sins  be  never 
so  many,  never  so  monstrous,  all  shall  be  forgiven.     He  will  have  mercy 


498  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Apmi762. 

upon  you,  and  will  abundantly  pardon.  For  where  sin  hath  abounded, 
grace  doth  much  more  abound.  He  who  hath  begun  this  good  work  in  you 
will  accomplish  it  to  your  eternal  good  and  His  eternal  glory.  Therefore, 
doubt  not,  fear  not.  A  broken  and  a  contrite  heart  God  will  not  despise. 
The  deeper  is  your  sorrow,  the  nearer  is  your  joy.  Your  extremity  is  God's 
opportunity.  It  is  usually  darkest  before  daybreak.  You  shall  shortly 
find  pardon,  peace,  and  plenteous  redemption,  and  at  last  rejoice  in  the 
common  and  glorious  salvation  of  His  saints. 

And  lastly,  it  is  well  for  you  who  neither  truly  desire  to  be  in  Christ  nor 
to  go  to  God  ;  for  it  is  well  for  you  that  you  are  out  of  hell  ;  it  is  well  your  day 
of  grace  is  not  utterly  past.  Behold,  now  is  your  accepted  time  ;  behold, 
now  is  the  day  of  salvation  !  Oh  that  you  may  employ  the  remainder  of  it 
in  working  out  your  salvation  with  fear  and  trembling  !  Now  is  faith  to  be 
had,  saving  faith  ;  now  you  may  be  washed  from  all  your  sins  in  the 
Redeemer's  blood,  justified,  sanctified,  and  prepared  for  heaven.  Take,  I 
beseech  you,  the  time  while  the  time  is.  You  have  now  the  means  of  grace 
to  use  ;  the  ordinances  of  God  to  enjoy  ;  His  word  to  read  and  hear  ;  His 
ministers  to  instruct  you  ;  and  His  members  to  converse  with.  You  know 
not  what  a  day  may  bring  forth  ;  you  may  die  suddenly.  As  death  leaves 
you,  judgement  will  find  you.  And  if  you  die  as  you  are,  out  of  Christ,  void 
of  true  faith,  unregenerate,  unsanctified,  snares,  fire  and  brimstone,  storm  and 
tempest,  God  will  rain  upon  you  (Ps.  xi.  6),  as  your  eternal,  intolerable 
portion  to  drink. 

Suffer  me,  therefore,  thus  far,  one  and  all  of  you.  God's  glory  and  your 
everlasting  welfare  is  all  I  aim  at.  What  I  look  for  in  return  from  you  is, 
I  confess,  much  more  than  I  deserve — your  prayers.  Pray  for  me,  and  I 
will  pray  for  you,  who  am 

Your  affectionate  brother, 

W.  Grimshaw. 

Fri.  9  (being  Good  Friday). — I  had  almost  lost  my  voice 
by  a  cold  ;  however,  I  spoke  as  I  could  till,  before  twelve  (it 
being  a  watch-night),  I  could  speak  near  as  well  as  ever. 

On  Easter  Day  we  had  uncommon  congregations,  as  indeed 
we  have  had  all  the  week  ;  and  I  observed  a  more  staid  and  solid 
behaviour  in  most  than  is  usual  in  this  kingdom.  Monday  and 
Tuesday  I  was  employed  in  visiting  the  classes,  and  I  was  much 
comforted  among  them  ;  there  was  such  a  hunger  and  thirst 
in  all  who  had  tasted  of  the  grace  of  God  after  a  full  renewal  in 
His  image. 

Sun.  18. — As  often  as  I  have  been  here  I  never  saw  the 
house  thoroughly  filled  before.  And  the  multitude  did  not 
come  together  in  vain.     I  think  many  will  remember  this  day. 

Mon.  19.— I  left  Dublin,  and  I  could  look  back  with  satisfac- 
tion on  the  days  I  had  spent  therein.     I  had  reason  to  believe 


April  1762. 


In  Ireland  499 


that  God  had  been  at  work  in  a  very  uncommon  manner.  Many 
of  those  who  once  contradicted  and  blasphemed  were  now  con- 
vinced of  'the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus.'  Many  who  had  long 
revolted  from  God  had  returned  to  Him  with  full  purpose  of 
heart.  Several  mourners  had  found  peace  with  God,  and  some 
believe  He  has  saved  them  from  all  sin  ;  many  more  are  all  on 
fire  for  this  salvation,  and  a  spirit  of  love  runs  through  the  whole 
people. 

I  came  in  the  evening  to  Newry,  where  I  found  a  far  different 
face  of  things.  Offences  had  broke  the  society  in  pieces,  only 
two-and-thirty  being  left  of  near  a  hundred.  But  God  has  a 
few  names  left  here  also.  Let  these  stand  firm,  and  God  will 
maintain  His  own  cause. 

Wed.  21. — I  rode  to  Carrickfergus.  The  violent  rain  kept 
away  the  delicate  and  curious  hearers.  For  the  sake  of  these  I 
delayed  the  morning  preaching  till  a  quarter  before  nine,  but  it 
was  too  early  still  for  a  great  part  of  the  town,  who  could  not 
possibly  rise  before  ten.  I  added  a  few  members  to  the  society, 
and  left  them  in  peace  and  Iqvc. 

Where  to  preach  in  Belfast  I  did  not  know.  It  was  too  wet 
to  preach  abroad,  and  a  dancing-master  was  busily  employed  in 
the  upper  part  of  the  market-house,  till  at  twelve  the  sovereign 
put  him  out  by  holding  his  court  there.  While  he  was  above,  I 
began  below  to  a  very  serious  and  attentive  audience.  But 
they  were  all  poor  ;  the  rich  of  Belfast  '  cared  for  none  of  these 
things.' 

After  dinner  we  rode  to  Newtown[ards]  and  found  another 
poor,  shattered  society,  reduced  from  fifty  to  eighteen  members, 
and  most  of  those  cold  enough.  In  the  evening  I  preached  to  a 
large  congregation  in  the  market-house  on  '  I  will  heal  their 
backsliding.'  God  fulfilled  His  word  ;  many  were  healed,  and 
many  more  deeply  wounded.  I  had  full  employment  among 
them  the  next  day,  and  on  Saturday  the  24th  I  left  between 
thirty  and  forty  members,  full  of  desire  and  hope  and  earnest 
resolutions  not  to  be  almost,  but  altogether,  Christians. 

About  ten  I  preached  at  Comber,  and  then  rode  to  Lisburn, 
where,  in  the  evening,  I  had  many  rich  and  genteel  hearers. 

Sun.  25. — The  congregation  was  larger  in  the  morning  than 
the  evening  before,  and  many  appeared  to  be  deeply  wounded. 


500  John   Wesley  s  Journal  rApni  1762. 

Oh  may  none  heal  their  wound  slightly  !  But  far  the  largest 
congregation  of  all  met  in  the  evening ;  and  yet  I  saw  not  a 
scoffer,  no,  nor  trifler,  among  them. 

Mon.  26. — In  the  evening  I  preached  to  a  large  congregation 
in  the  market-house  at  Lurgan.  I  now  embraced  the  oppor- 
tunity which  I  had  long  desired,  of  talking  with  Mr.  Miller,  the 
contriver  of  that  statue  which  was  in  Lurgan  when  I  was  there 
before.1  It  was  the  figure  of  an  old  man  standing  in  a  case,  with 
a  curtain  drawn  before  him,  over  against  a  clock  which  stood  on 
the  other  side  of  the  room.  Every  time  the  clock  struck  he 
opened  the  door  with  one  hand,  drew  back  the  curtain  with  the 
other,  turned  his  head  as  if  looking  round  on  the  company,  and 
then  said,  with  a  clear,  loud,  articulate  voice :  '  Past  one,  two, 
three,'  and  so  on.  But  so  many  came  to  sec  this  (the  like  of 
which  all  allowed  was  not  to  be  seen  in  Europe)  that  Mr.  Miller 
was  in  danger  of  being  ruined,  not  having  time  to  attend  his 
own  business  ;  so,  as  none  offered  to  purchase  it  or  to  reward  him 
for  his  pains,  he  took  the  whole  machine  in  pieces  ;  nor  has  he 
any  thought  of  ever  making  anything  of  the  kind  again. 

Tues.  27. — I  preached  in  Lurgan  at  five,  in  Terryhoogan  at 
ten,  and  at  two  in  the  market-house  at  Richhill.2  I  have  rarely 
seen  so  serious  a  congregation  at  a  new  place.  At  six  I 
preached  in  the  new  preaching-house  at  Clonmain,  the  largest 
in  the  north  of  Ireland  ;  and  the  people  were  all  alive,  being 
stirred  up  by  Mr.  Ryan,3  once  an  attorney,  but  now  living  upon 
his  own  estate. 

Wed.  28. — The  rain  kept  off  the  curious  hearers,  so  that  we 
had  few  in  the  evening  but  earnest  souls  ;  after  sermon  we  had 
a  lovefeast.  It  was  a  wonderful  time.  God  poured  out  His 
Spirit  abundantly.  Many  were  filled  with  consolation,  particu- 
larly two  who  had  come  from  Lisburn  (three-and-twenty  Irish 
miles),  one  a  lifeless  backslider,  the  other  a  girl  of  sixteen,  who 
had  been  some  time  slightly  convinced  of  sin.  God  restored 
him  to  the  light  of  His  countenance,  and  gave  her  a  clear 
evidence  of  His  love,  and,  indeed,  in  so  uncommon  a  manner 
that  it  seemed  her  soul  was  all  love.     One  of  our  brethren  was 


1  See  below,  June  14,  1773,  and  Meth.  3  Mr.  Thomas  Ryan,  who  subsequently 

Mag.  1827,  p.  801.  travelled  for  a  time  as  a  preacher.     See 

-  Set  Meth.  Mag.  Dublin,  181 7,  p.  319.       Myles's  Chron.  Hist.  p.  453- 


April  1762.:  In  Ireland  501 

constrained  openly  to  declare  he  believed  God  had  wrought  this 
change  in  him.  I  trust  he  will  not  lightly  cast  away  the  gift 
which  God  has  given  him.  In  the  morning  I  left  them  rejoicing 
and  praising  God,  and  rode  to  Monaghan. 

The  commotions  in  Munster  '  having  now  alarmed  all  Ireland, 
we  had  hardly  alighted  when  some  wise  persons  informed  the 
provost  there  were  three  strange  sort  of  men  come  to  the  King's 
Arms.  So  the  provost  with  his  officers  came  without  delay  to 
secure  the  north  from  so  imminent  a  danger.  I  was  just  come 
out  when  I  was  required  to  return  into  the  house.  The  provost 
asked  me  many  questions,  and  perhaps  the  affair  might  have 
turned  serious  had  I  not  had  two  letters  with  me  which  I  had 
lately  received,  one  from  the  Bishop  of  Londonderry,2  the  other 
from  the  Earl  of  Moira.  Upon  reading  these  he  excused  him- 
self for  the  trouble  he  had  given,  and  wished  me  a  good  journey. 

Between  six  and  seven  I  preached  at  Cootehill,  and  in  the 
morning  rode  on  to  Enniskillen,  the  situation  of  which  is  both 
pleasant  and  strong,  as  it  is  surrounded  by  a  deep  and  broad  river3; 
but  fortifications  it  has  none,  no,  nor  so  much  as  an  old  castle.4 
The  inhabitants  glory  that  they  have  no  Papist  in  the  town. 

After  riding  round  and  round,  we  came  in  the  evening  to  a 
lone  house  called  Carrickbeg.5  It  lay  in  the  midst  of  horrid 
mountains,6  and  had  no  very  promising  appearance.  However, 
it  afforded  corn  for  our  horses  and  potatoes  for  ourselves.     So 


1   Recently    the     first     rising    of    the  3  An  undated  letter,  of  quite  a  cordial 

Whiteboys  had  taken  place  in  the  pro-  nature,   from    Dr.    Barnard,    Bishop    of 

vince  of  Munster  and  alarmed  the  whole  Derry,  is  printed  by  Whitehead  {Life  of 

country  (see  Crookshank's  Methodism  in  Wesley,  vol.  ii.  p.  289).     This  may  have 

Ireland,    vol.    i.    p.    157;    also    below,  been  the  letter  that  helped  to  save  Wesley 

p.   507).     On  April  12,   1762,  the  Irish  from  arrest  as  a  suspected  person.     Cf. 

House  of  Commons   appointed  a  com-  Crookshank,  Methodism  in  Ireland,  vol.  i. 

mittee  to  inquire  into  the  causes  of  the  p.  148. 

Popish  insurrection  of  Munster.     The  in-  3  The  Erne,  connecting  the  upper  and 

surgents  were  really  gangs  of  midnight  lower  lakes. 

marauders  known  as  '  Whiteboys.'    Their  *  The  round  tower  on  Devenish  Island 

object  was  understood  to  be  agrarian,  but  is  but  two  miles  away, 

evidence  was  given  at  the  trial  of  Father  5  Or  Black  Lion  Inn. 

Nicholas   Sheehy  to  show   that  it    was  6  See  Wesley's  curious  remarks  in  his 

more  largely  Jacobite  and  religious,  and  sermon   on   God's    approbation    of   His 

that    one   of    the    oaths   sworn    by   the  work,  and  on  the  effect  of  the  Deluge. 

Whiteboys   was   '  to   be   faithful   to   the  He  did  not  agree  with  Thomas  Burnet, 

King  of  France  and  Prince  Charles.'   See  who  held  that  the  earth  was  flat  before 

Froude's  The  English  in  Ireland,  vol.  ii.  the  Deluge  (Sermon  LVI.  vol.  vi.  p.  206). 


502  John   Wesley  s  Journal  (Mayi762. 

we  made  a  hearty  supper,  called  in  as  many  as  pleased  of  the 
family  to  prayers,  and,  though  we  had  no  fastening  either  for  our 
door  or  our  windows,  slept  in  peace. 

May  i,  Sat. — We  took  horse  at  five.  The  north-east  wind 
would  have  suited  the  first  of  January,  and  we  had  soaking  rain 
on  the  black  mountains.  However,  before  noon  we  came  well 
to  Sligo. 

None  in  Sligo,  when  I  was  there  last,1  professed  so  much  love 
to  me  as  Mr.  Knox's  family.  They  would  willingly  have  had 
me  with  them  morning,  noon,  and  night,  and  omitted  no  possible 
mark  of  affection.  But  what  a  change  !  Mrs.  K[nox]  went  into 
the  country  the  day  before  I  came,  her  brother  and  his  wife  set 
out  for  Dublin  at  the  same  time,  he  himself  and  the  rest  of  his 
family  saw  me,  that  is  at  church,  because  they  could  not  help  it, 

But  wonder'd  at  the  strange  man's  face, 
As  one  they  ne'er  had  known. 

I  am  sorry  for  their  sake,  not  my  own.  Perhaps  they  may  wish 
to  see  mc  when  it  is  too  late.2 

Sun.  2. — I  preached  in  the  market-house,  morning  and 
evening.  Abundance  of  the  dragoons  were  there ;  so  were 
many  of  the  officers,  who  behaved  with  uncommon  seriousness. 

M011.  3. — In  the  evening  a  company  of  players  began  acting 
in  the  upper  part  of  the  market-house  just  as  we  began  singing 
in  the  lower.  The  case  of  these  is  remarkable.  The  Presby- 
terians for  a  long  time  had  their  public  worship  here ;  but  when 
the  strollers  came  to  town  they  were  turned  out,  and  from  that 
time  had  no  public  worship  at  all.  On  Tuesday  evening  the 
lower  part  too  was  occupied  by  buyers  and  sellers  of  oatmeal, 
but  as  soon  as  I  began  the  people  quitted  their  sacks  and 
listened  to  business  of  greater  importance. 

On  the  following  days  I  preached  at  Carrick-on-Shannon,s 
Drummersnave,  Cleggill,  Longford,  and  Abbeyderg. 


1  See  above,  p.  394.       For  Wesley's  '  Crookshank,  Methodism  in  Ireland, 

faithful   letter   to   Mr.   Knox,    of  Sligo,  vol.  i.  p.  158  ;  also  below,  May  11,  1765. 

see    Works,    vol.    xii.    p.    255    (written  2  See   IV. M.  Mag.  1832,  p.  465.     He 

from    Sligo   May  30,    1765).      For   the  was  the  guest  of  Mr.  Glover  Laird,  whose 

other  Knox  family,  of  Derry,  parents  of  descendants    to    the    third    and    fourth 

Alexander    Knox,   sec   below,    May   II,  generation  are  identified  with  Methodism 

1765,    and    Crookshank,    Methodism    in  His  daughter  Mary  married  Caleb  Shera, 

Ireland,  vol.  i.  pp.  180,  183.  grandfather  of  Dr.  H.  M.  Shera,  for  many 


May  1762.]  In  Ireland 


DUJ 


Sat.  8. —Calling  on  a  friend  in  our  way,  we  had  not  sat 
down  before  several  of  the  neighbours,  Papists  as  well  as 
Protestants,  came  in,  supposing  I  was  to  preach.  I  was  not 
willing  to  disappoint  them,  and  they  all  listened  with  deep 
attention. 

Hence  I  rode  to  Athlone.  I  intended  on  Sunday  the  9th  to 
preach  abroad  as  usual,  but  the  sharp  wind  made  it  imprac- 
ticable, and  obliged  me  to  keep  in  the  house.  The  congrega- 
tions, however,  were  large  both  morning  and  evening,  and  I 
found  a  little  fruit  of  my  labour. 

Tliur.  13.1 — I  was  in  hopes  even  the  Papists  here  had  at 
length  a  shepherd  who  cared  for  their  souls.  He  was  stricter 
than  any  of  his  predecessors,  and  was  esteemed  a  man  of  piety 
as  well  as  learning.  Accordingly,  he  had  given  them  strict 
orders  not  to  work  on  the  Lord's  Day,  but  I  found  he  allowed 
them  to  play  as  much  as  they  pleased,  at  cards  in  particular  ; 
nay,  and  averred  it  was  their  duty  so  to  do,  to  refresh  both  their 
bodies  and  minds.  Alas,  for  the  blind  leader  of  the  blind  !  Has 
not  he  the  greater  sin  ? 

Sun.  16. — I  had  observed  to  the  society  last  week  that  I 
had  not  seen  one  congregation  ever  in  Ireland  behave  so  ill  at 
church  as  that  at  Athlone,  laughing,  talking,  and  staring  about 
during  the  whole  service.  I  had  added,  '  This  is  your  fault,  for, 
if  you  had  attended  the  church  as  you  ought  to  have  done,  your 
presence  and  example  would  not  have  failed  to  influence  the 
whole  congregation.'  And  so  it  appeared ;  I  saw  not  one 
to-day  either  laughing,  talking,  or  staring  about,  but  a  remark- 
able seriousness  was  spread  from  the  one  end  of  the  church  to 
the  other. 

Mon.  17. — I  preached  at  Ahascragh  to  all  the  Protestants  in 
or  near  the  town.  But  their  priests  would  not  suffer  the  Papists 
to  come.  What  could  a  magistrate  do  in  this  case?  Doubtless 
he  might  tell  the  priest :  '  Sir,  as  you  enjoy  liberty  of  conscience, 
you  shall  allow  it  to  others.  You  are  not  persecuted  yourself ; 
you  shall  not  persecute  them.' 


years   head   master  of  Wesley   College,  ol  the  Society  '  on  wandering  thoughts, 

Sheffield   (Crookshank's    Methodism   in  dreams,  and  how  to  deal  with  *  the  earnest 

Ireland,  vol.  i.  p.  159).  and    the   slack  '    members  of  her   band 

'  On  this  day  he  wrote  to  a  '  Member  (  Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  277). 


504  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [May  1762. 


Tues.  18.— I  preached  at  Ballinasloe l  about  ten  in  the 
morning,  and  in  the  evening  at  Aughrim. 

Thur.  20. —  I  rode  on  to  Hollymount.  The  sun  was  extremely 
hot,  so  that  I  was  much  exhausted  ;  but  after  a  little  rest  I 
preached  in  the  churchyard  without  any  weariness. 

Fri.  21. — I  preached  at  Burriscarra  church  at  ten  to  a  deeply 
serious  congregation,  and  in  the  court-house  at  Castlebar  in  the 
evening. 

Sun.  23. — The  chief  family  in  the  town  2  made  a  part  of  our 
congregation.  And  whether  they  received  any  benefit  thereby 
or  no,  their  example  may  bring  others  who  will  receive  it. 

Mon.  24.— I  went  with  two  friends  to  see  one  of  the  greatest 
natural  wonders  in  Ireland,  Mount  Eagle,  vulgarly  called  Croagh- 
Patrick.3  The  foot  of  it  is  fourteen  miles  from  Castlebar.  There 
we  left  our  horses  and  procured  a  guide.  It  was  just  twelve 
when  we  alighted  ;  the  sun  was  burning  hot,  and  we  had  not  a 
breath  of  wind.  Part  of  the  ascent  was  a  good  deal  steeper 
than  an  ordinary  pair  of  stairs.  About  two  we  gained  the  top, 
which  is  an  oval,  grassy  plain  about  a  hundred  and  fifty  yards  in 
length  and  seventy  or  eighty  in  breadth.  The  upper  part  of  the 
mountain  much  resembles  the  Peak  of  Teneriffe.  I  think  it 
cannot  rise  much  less  than  a  mile  perpendicular  from  the  plain 
below.  There  is  an  immense  prospect  on  one  side  toward  the 
sea,  and  on  the  other  over  the  land.  But  as  most  of  it  is  waste 
and  uncultivated,  the  prospect  is  not  very  pleasing. 

At  seven  in  the  evening  I  preached  at  Newport,  and  at  six 
in  the  morning.  I  then  returned  to  Westport,  and  began  read- 
ing prayers  at  ten.  After  sermon  I  had  a  little  conversation 
with  Lord  Westport,4  an  extremely  sensible  man,  and  would 
gladly  have  stayed  with  him  longer  but  that  I  had  promised  to 
be  at  Castlebar,  where,  in  the  evening,  I  preached  my  farewell 
sermon  to  a  numerous  congregation. 

Wed.  26.— We  took  horse  at  four,  to  enjoy  the  cool  of  the 
morning.  At  seven  the  sun  was  warm  enough  ;  I  verily  think 
as  warm  as  in  Georgia.     We  could  not  have  borne  it,  but  the 

.  He  was  the  guest  of  Mr.  Knight,  for  3  It  is  2,510  feet  high,  and  is  famous 

whom  see   Crookshank's  Methodism    in  for  its  religious  pilgrimages. 

Ireland,  vol.  i.  p.  159-  '  Lord    M°UIltea8le  was  creatcd    Vls" 

-  That  of  Sir  Charles  Bingham,  after-  count  Westport  in  1767. 
wards  Earl  of  Lucan. 


May  1762.)  In  Ireland  505 


wind  was  in  our  face.  However,  in  the  afternoon  we  got  well  to 
Gal  way.  There  was  a  small  society  here,  and  (what  is  not  com- 
mon) all  of  them  were  young  women.  Between  seven  and  eight 
1  began  preaching  in  the  court-house  to  a  mixed  multitude  of 
Papists  and  Protestants,  rich  and  poor,  who  appeared  to  be 
utterly  astonished.  At  five  in  the  morning  I  preached  again, 
and  spoke  as  plain  as  I  possibly  could  ;  but  to  the  far  greater 
part  it  seemed  to  be  only  '  as  the  sound  of  many  waters.' 

Tliur.  27. — We  had  another  Georgian  day,  but,  having  the 
wind  again  full  in  our  faces,  after  riding  about  fifty  English 
miles  we  got  well  to  Ennis  in  the  afternoon.  Many  being 
ready  to  make  a  disturbance  at  the  court-house,  I  left  them 
to  themselves,  and  preached  over  against  Mr.  Bindon's  '  house 
in  great  quietness. 

Fri.  28. — I  was  informed  that,  a  few  days  before,  two  of 
Mr.  B[indon]'s  maids  went  to  bathe  (as  the  women  here 
frequently  do)  in  the  river  near  his  house.  The  water  was 
not  above  a  yard  deep,  but  there  was  a  deep  hole  at  a  little 
distance.  As  one  of  them  dashed  water  at  the  other,  she, 
endeavouring  to  avoid  it,  slipped  into  the  hole,  and  the  first, 
striving  to  help  her,  slipped  in  too  ;  nor  was  either  of  them 
seen  any  more  till  their  bodies  floated  upon  the  water.  Yet 
after  some  hours  one  of  them  was  brought  to  life,  but  the  other 
could  not  be  recovered. 

The  violent  heat,  which  had  continued  for  eight  days,  was 
now  at  an  end,  the  wind  turning  north  ;  so  on  Saturday  the  29th 
we  had  a  pleasant  ride  to  Limerick. 

Sun.  30. — I  preached  in  the  old  camp.  The  pleasantness  of 
the  place,  the  calmness  of  the  evening,  and  the  convenient 
distance  from  the  town,  all  conspired  to  draw  the  people 
together,  who  flocked  from  every  quarter.  Many  officers,  as 
well  as  abundance  of  soldiers,  were  among  them,2  and  behaved 

1  See  above,  p.  276.  mised  the   Limerick  society  that  if  they 

-'  John  Dillon,  a  drum-major,  who  a  could  procure  ground  for  building  while 

few  years  previously,  in  Cork,  had   be-  he   was  at   Cork,    and  send   him   word, 

come    a   member    of   the    society,    was  he   would   come   back   and   spend    four 

present.      He    became    remarkable    for  days  with   them.      See  below,    p.  509  ; 

devotion  and  zeal.     Wesley  preached  on  also    Account   of  John   Dillon,    referred 

'Now  is  the  day  of  salvation,'  empha-  to   in    Green's   Bibliography,    No.    271, 

sizing  holiness  (Crookshank's  Methodism  and  inserted  in  Wesley's  Edition  of  his 

in  Ireland,  vol.  i.  pp.  1 60,  161),  and  pro-  Works,  vol.  xxiii. 


506  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [June  1762. 

with  the  utmost  decency.  I  preached  the  following  evenings  at 
the  same  place,  and  that  in  great  measure  for  the  sake  of  the 
soldiers,  it  being  within  a  musket-shot  of  the  place  where 
they  were  exercising.  Nay,  two  evenings  an  officer  ordered  a 
large  body  to  exercise  on  the  very  spot  ;  but  the  moment  I 
began  they  laid  down  their  arms  and  joined  the  rest  of  the 
congregation. 

JUNE  4,  Fri. — I  preached  at  noon  in  Ballingarrane  to  a  large 
congregation,  chiefly  of  Palatines  l  ;  and  so  at  Newmarket  in  the 
evening  and  the  morning  following.2  These  have  quite  a  different 
look  from  the  natives  of  the  country,  as  well  as  a  different  temper.1 
They  are  a  serious,  thinking  people,  and  their  diligence  turns  all 
their  land  into  a  garden. 

Mon.  7. — I  met  a  large  number  of  children,  just  as  much 
acquainted  with  God,  and  with  the  things  of  God,  as  '  a  wild 
ass's  colt,'  and  just  as  much  concerned  about  them.  And  yet 
who  can  believe  that  these  pretty  little  creatures  have  '  the 
wrath  of  God  abiding  on  them  '  ? 

Numberless  crowds  ran  together  about  this  time  to  see  the 
execution  of  a  poor  deserter.  And  I  believe  some  of  them 
retained  serious  impressions  for  near  four-and-twenty  hours ! 
But  it  was  not  so  with  the  soldiers  ;  although  they  walked  one 
by  one,  close  to  the  bleeding,  mangled  carcase,  most  of  them 
were  as  merry  within  six  hours  as  if  they  had  only  seen  a 
puppet-show. 

Tues.  8. — I  visited  the  classes,  and  wondered  to  find  no 
witness  of  the  great  salvation.  Surely  the  flame  which  is 
kindled  in  Dublin  will  not  stop  there.  The  next  evening  God 
did  indeed  kindle  it  here  ;  a  cry  went  up  on  every  side  ;  and 
the  lively  believers  seemed  all  on  fire  to  be  '  cleansed  from  all 
unrighteousness.' 

On  Friday  and  Saturday  I  had  much  conversation  with  a 
very  noted  person  ;  but  I  found  none  in  town  who  expected 
that  any  good  could  be  done  to  such  a  sinner  as  him !  Such 
a  sinner  ?  Why,  were  we  not  all  such  ?  We  were  dead  in  sin. 
And  is  he  more  than  dead? 


1  See  above,  p.  397.  June  14.     Ballingarrane  and  Newmarket 

•  Wesley's    ministry   at    this   time    in       were    excursions    made    from    Limerick 
Limerick    extended     from    May    29    to       during  this  period. 


June  1762] 


In  Ireland  507 


Sun.  13. — Being  informed  I  had  shot  over  the  heads  of  the 
soldiers,  who  did  not  'understand  anything  but  hell  and 
damnation,'  I  took  my  leave  of  them  this  evening  by  strongly 
applying  the  story  of  Dives  and  Lazarus.  They  seemed  to 
understand  this,  and  all  but  two  or  three  boy-officers  behaved 
as  men  fearing  God. 

Mon.  14. — I  rode  to  Cork.  Here  I  procured  an  exact 
account  of  the  late  commotions.  About  the  beginning  of 
December  last,  a  few  men  met  by  night  near  Nenagh,  in  the 
county  of  Limerick,  and  threw  down  the  fences  of  some 
commons,  which  had  been  lately  enclosed.  Near  the  same 
time  others  met  in  the  county  of  Tipperary,  of  Waterford, 
and  of  Cork.  As  no  one  offered  to  suppress  or  hinder  them, 
they  increased  in  number  continually,  and  called  themselves 
Whiteboys,  wearing  white  cockades  and  white  linen  frocks. 
In  February  there  were  five  or  six  parties  of  them,  two  or  three 
hundred  men  in  each,  who  moved  up  and  down,  chiefly  in  the 
night ;  but  for  what  end  did  not  appear.  Only  they  levelled 
a  few  fences,  dug  up  some  grounds,  and  hamstrung  some  cattle, 
perhaps  fifty  or  sixty  in  all.  One  body  of  them  came  into 
Clogheen,  of  about  five  hundred  foot  and  two  hundred  horse. 
They  moved  as  exactly  as  regular  troops,  and  appeared  to  be 
thoroughly  disciplined.  They  now  sent  letters  to  several 
gentlemen,  threatening  to  pull  down  their  houses.  They  com- 
pelled every  one  they  met  to  take  an  oath  to  be  true  to  Queen 
Sive  l  (whatever  that  meant)  and  the  Whiteboys  ;  not  to  reveal 
their  secrets  ;  and  to  join  them  when  called  upon.  It  was 
supposed  eight  or  ten  thousand  were  now  actually  risen,  many 
of  them  well  armed,  and  that  a  far  greater  number  were  ready 
to  rise  whenever  they  should  be  called  upon.  Those  who 
refused  to  swear  they  threatened  to  bury  alive.  Two  or  three 
they  did  bury  up  to  the  neck,  and  left  them  ;  where  they  must 
quickly  have  perished  had  they  not  been  found  in  time  by  some 
travelling  by.  At  length,  toward  Easter,  a  body  of  troops, 
chiefly  light  horse,  were  sent  against  them.  Many  were 
apprehended    and   committed    to   jail  ;    the  rest    of  them    dis- 


1  Sive  Oulteagh,  the  assumed  name  of       Ireland,  vol.  ii.  pp.  24-37,  gives  an  account 
their  chieftain.     Froude's  The  English  in       of  the  Whiteboys.     See  above,  p.  501. 


508  John    Wesley  s  Journal  tJunei762. 

appeared.  This  is  the  plain,  naked  fact,  which  has  been  so 
variously  represented. 

Tkur.  17. — I  rode  about  thirty  English  miles,  through  a 
pleasant  and  well-cultivated  country,  to  Youghal.1  It  is  finely 
situated  on  the  side  of  a  hill,  so  as  to  command  a  wide  sea 
prospect.  I  preached  in  the  evening  at  the  Exchange. 
Abundance  of  people  attended,  as  did  the  far  greater  part 
of  them  at  five  o'clock  in  the  morning.  I  returned  to  Cork  on 
Friday? 

Sun.  20. — At  the  desire  of  Captain  Taylor,  I  went  to 
Passage  West,  and  preached  to  many  of  the  townspeople,  and 
as  many  of  the  sailors  as  could  attend.  On  Monday  and 
Tuesday  I  visited  the  classes,  and  observed  what  was  very 
uncommon — in  two  years  there  was  neither  any  increase  nor 
any  decrease  in  this  society.  Two  hundred  and  thirty-three 
members  I  left,  and  two  hundred  and  thirty-three  I  find.3 

Thur.  24. — I  rode  to  Kinsale,  and  preached  in  the  Exchange 
to  a  considerable  number  of  attentive  hearers.  In  the  afternoon 
I  rode  to  Bandon,  and  found  the  society  much  lessened,  and 
dead  enough.  Yet  the  congregation  in  the  main  street  was 
remarkably  large,  as  well  as  deeply  attentive.  So  it  was  on 
Friday* 

Sat.  26. — I  visited  the  classes,  and  exhorted  them  to  '  be 
zealous  and  repent.'  The  word  sunk  into  their  hearts,  so  that 
when  we  met  in  the  evening  they  did  not  seem  to  be  the 
same  persons.  They  appeared  to  breathe  quite  another  spirit, 
every  one  stirring  up  his  neighbour.  I  know  not  when  I 
have  seen  so  deep  and  general  an  impression  made  in  so  short 
a  time. 

Sun.  27. — I  returned  to  Cork,  and  in  the  afternoon  preached 
on  the  Barrack  Hill.  The  congregation  was  such  as  I  had  not 
seen  at  Cork  for  at  least  twelve  years.  One  soldier  made  some 
noise,  but  the  commanding  officer  soon  ordered  him  into 
custody.     The   top  of  the    walls,  being   covered  with  soldiers, 


'  An  old  engraving  of  Youghal,  dated  Christopher    Hopper   {Works,    vol.    xii. 

1750,   shows  that  the  walls  extended  a  p.  306). 

long  way  in  the  ridge  of  the  hill  above  3  This  was  in  Cork,  not  Passage  West, 

the  town.  4  On  the  25th  he  wrote  to    Matthew 

2  On  June  1 8  he  wrote  from  Cork  to  Lowes. 


July  1762.]  In  Ireland  509 

made  a  solemn  appearance.  Let  this  preaching  be  continued, 
and  the  work  of  God  will  quickly  revive  at  Cork. 

On  Monday  and  Tuesday  the  congregation  at  the  house  was 
far  larger  than  on  any  week-day  before,  and  there  was  much 
life  among  the  people,  which  perhaps  was  increased  by  the 
epidemic  disorder.  This  generally  attacked  first  the  head, 
afterward  the  throat  and  the  breast.  Mr.  Jones,  who  had  been 
drooping  for  some  time,  was  seized  with  this  three  weeks  since. 
While  I  was  at  Youghal  he  sent  for  a  physician,  who  applied 
a  blister  to  his  head.  In  two  or  three  days  a  second  physician 
was  called  in,  who  told  his  relations  he  was  better  and  better. 
Returning  from  Bandon,  and  observing  what  was  prescribed,  I 
could  not  help  saying,  '  When  a  fever  neither  intermits  nor 
remits,  the  bark  is  no  better  than  poison.'  At  hearing  this,  the 
doctors  were  much  displeased,  and  declared  again  he  was  a 
great  deal  better.  On  Wednesday  morning,  a  little  before  two, 
his  spirit  returned  to  God. 

So  died  honest  Thomas  Jones,1  secundum  artem  !  A  man 
whom  God  raised  from  nothing,  by  a  blessing  on  his  unwearied 
diligence,  to  a  plentiful  fortune.  Yet,  when  riches  increased  on 
every  side,  he  did  not  set  his  heart  upon  them.  Some  years 
since  he  retired  from  business,  but  was  still  fully  employed  in 
building  and  in  doing  good.  His  natural  temper  was  rough, 
and  so  was  his  speech,  which  occasioned  him  many  trials.  But 
notwithstanding  this,  he  was  generous  and  compassionate,  and 
never  weary  of  well-doing.  From  the  beginning  of  his  illness 
he  was  continually  in  prayer,  for  some  time  with  much  fear  and 
distress.  But  I  saw  no  signs  of  this  after  I  came  from  Bandon : 
I  believe  his  fears  were  then  all  scattered,  and  he  waited  with 
calm  though  earnest  desire  for  the  salvation  of  God. 

Wed.  30. — I  rode  to  Limerick.  I  had  promised  to  come 
again,  if  our  brethren  fonnd  a  convenient  place  to  build  a 
preaching-house.     One  now  offered,  proper  in  all  respects.2 

July  3,  Sat. —  I  met  the  society,  and  inquired  what  each  was 
willing  to  subscribe.  A  considerable  sum  was  subscribed 
immediately. 


1  See   above,    vol.    iii.    pp.    409    and       near  the  old  Courthouse   (Crookshank's 
471  ;  also  below,  April  14,  1 77 1 .  Methodism  in  Ireland,  vol.  i.  p.  160). 

■  They   obtained   a   piece    of   ground 


510  John   Wesley  s  Journal 


July  1762. 


Sunday  the  4th  was  a  day  of  solemn  joy,  equal  to  any  I  had 
seen  in  Dublin.  At  the  lovefeast  in  the  evening  it  appeared 
that  God  had  now  visited  Limerick  also.  Five  persons  desired 
to  return  thanks  to  God  for  a  clear  sense  of  His  pardoning  love  ; 
several  others  for  an  increase  of  faith,  and  for  deliverance 
from  doubts  and  fears.  And  two  gave  a  plain,  simple  account 
of  the  manner  wherein  God  had  cleansed  their  hearts,  so  that 
they  now  felt  no  anger,  pride,  or  self-will  ;  but  continual  love, 
and  prayer,  and  praise. 

Mon.  5. — I  rode  to  Clonmel,  and  preached  in  the  evening 
near  the  barrack-gate,  to  a  wild,  staring  multitude,  many  of 
whom  would  have  been  rude  enough,  but  they  stood  in  awe 
of  the  soldiers. 

Tues.  6. —  I  rode  to  Carrick-on-Suir.  Having  been  informed 
there  was  one  family  here  also  wherein  both  the  man  and  his 
wife  feared  God,  I  immediately  sent  to  the  house.  The  woman 
presently  came,  from  whom  I  learned  that  her  husband  died 
the  Saturday  before,  and  left  her  with  nothing  but  four  little 
children  and  an  unshaken  confidence  in  God.  Her  words,  her 
look,  her  whole  carriage,  were  of  a  piece,  and  showed  the  dignity 
of  Christian  sorrow.  I  could  not  but  admire  that  God  should 
send  me  just  at  such  a  time  !  And  her  tears  were  turned  into 
tears  of  joy.  In  the  evening  I  preached  at  Waterford,  in  a 
court  adjoining  to  the  main  street. 

Wed.  7. — Four  of  the  Whiteboys,  lately  condemned  for 
breaking  open  houses,  were  executed.  They  were  all,  notwith- 
standing the  absolution  of  their  priest,  ready  to  die  for  fear  of 
death.  Two  or  three  of  them  laid  fast  hold  on  the  ladder,  and 
could  not  be  persuaded  to  let  it  go.  One  in  particular  gave 
such  violent  shrieks  as  might  be  heard  near  a  mile  off.  Oh 
what  but  love  can  cast  out  the  fear  of  death !  And  how 
inexpressibly  miserable  is  that  bondage  ! 

On  this  and  the  two  following  days  God  remembered 
poor  Waterford  also.  Several  backsliders  were  healed,  many 
awoke  out  of  sleep,  and  some  mightily  rejoiced  in  God  their 
Saviour. 

Sat.  10. — We  rode  to  Kilkenny,  one  of  the  pleasantest  and 
the  most  ancient  cities  in  the  kingdom,  and  not  inferior  to  any 
at  all  in  wickedness,  or  in  hatred  to  this  way.     I  was  therefore 


THE     REV.    JAMES    HERVEY. 

THE    REV.     VINCENT    PERRONET.  THE    REV.    WILLIAM    ROMAINE. 

THE    REV.    HENRY    VENN 


July  1762.]  In  Ireland  513 

glad  of  a  permission  to  preach  in  the  town  hall,1  where  a  small, 
serious  company  attended  in  the  evening. 

Sun.  1 1. —  I  went  to  the  cathedral,  one  of  the  best  built  which 
I  have  seen  in  Ireland.  The  pillars  are  all  of  black  marble, 
but  the  late  bishop2  ordered  them  to  be  whitewashed  !  Indeed, 
marble  is  so  plentiful  near  this  town  that  the  very  streets  are 
paved  with  it. 

At  six  in  the  evening  I  began  preaching  in  the  old  bowling- 
green,  near  the  castle.  Abundance  of  people,  Protestants  and 
Papists,  gathered  from  all  parts.  They  were  very  still  during  the 
former  part  of  the  sermon  ;  then  the  Papists  ran  together,  set  up 
a  shout,  and  would  have  gone  further,  but  they  were  restrained, 
they  knew  not  how.  I  turned  to  them  and  said,  '  Be  silent,  or 
be  gone  ! '  Their  noise  ceased,  and  we  heard  them  no  more  ;  so 
I  resumed  and  went  on  with  my  discourse,  and  concluded  without 
interruption. 

When  I  came  out  of  the  green  they  gathered  again,  and 
gnashed  upon  me  with  their  teeth  ;  one  cried  out,  '  Och  ! 3  what 
is  Kilkenny  come  to  ! '  But  they  could  go  no  further.  Only  two 
or  three  large  stones  were  thrown  ;  but  none  was  hurt  save  he 
that  threw  them,  for,  as  he  was  going  to  throw  again,  one  seized 
him  by  the  neck  and  gave  him  a  kick  and  a  cuff  which  spoiled 
his  diversion. 

Mon.  12. — I  went  to  Dunmore  Cave,  three  or  four4  miles 
from  Kilkenny.  It  is  full  as  remarkable  as  Poole's  Hole  or  any 
other  in  the  Peak.  The  opening  is  round,  parallel  to  the  horizon, 
and  seventy  or  eighty  yards  across.  In  the  midst  of  this  there 
is  a  kind  of  arch  twenty  or  thirty  feet  high.  By  this  you  enter 
into  the  first  cave,  nearly  round,  and  forty  or  fifty  feet  in 
diameter.      It  is  encompassed  with  spar-stones,  just  like  those 


1  The    present    town-hall    or    tholsel  *  See  Crookshank,  Methodism  in  Ire- 

(i.e.   custom-house)  as  it  was  called,  is  land,  vol.  i.  p.  162. 

the    third    erected    in   Kilkenny.      The  *  Seven  miles,  not  three  or  four  (see 

building     was     completed     during    the  W.H.S.   vol.  vii.   p.    122 ;    also   above, 


mayoralty  of  Walter  Blunt,  in  the  year  vol.    iii.   p.   478).     Ray    gives    a 

before  Wesley's  visit.     It  is  said  to  have  description     of    Poole's     Hole     in     his 

been   designed  by  an   Italian   architect.  Itineraries,  p.  113.     Forty  of  Dermot's 

{W.H.S.  vol.  vii.  p.  121.)  men  were   smothered  in  Dunmore  Cave 

-  Dr.  Edward  Maurice,  who  died  in  by  McKedmund,  who  piled  up  straw  and 

1756.  brambles  at  the  mouth  of  the  cave. 
VOL.    IV  31 


514  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [Juiyma. 

on  the  sides  of  Poole's  Hole.  On  one  side  of  the  cave  is  a 
narrow  passage,  which  goes  under  the  rock  two  or  three  hundred 
yards  ;  on  the  other  a  hollow,  which  no  one  has  ever  been  able 
to  find  an  end  of.  I  suppose  this  hole  too,  as  well  as  many 
others,  was  formed  by  the  waters  of  the  deluge  retreating  into 
the  great  abyss,  with  which  probably  it  communicates. 

Tues.  13. — I  rode  to  Birr.  About  forty  persons  attended 
in  the  evening,  and  half  as  many  in  the  morning.  I  saw  there 
was  but  one  way  to  do  any  good,  so  in  the  evening  I  preached 
abroad.  I  had  then  hundreds  of  hearers,  and  God  Himself 
spoke  to  many  a  cold  heart.  The  next  morning  at  five  the 
room  was  full  and  light  sprung  out  of  darkness,  so  that  many 
poor  withered  souls  began  to  revive  and  rejoice  again  in  God 
their  Saviour. 

Thur.  15. — I  took  my  old  standing  in  the  market-place  at 
Mountmellick,  but  the  next  evening  the  rain  drove  us  into 
the  market-house.  Afterward  we  had  a  joyful  lovefeast. 
Indeed,  hitherto  God  has  been  pleased  to  mark  all  our  way 
with  blessings. 

Sat.  17. — I  went  on  to  poor  dead  Portarlington.  And  no 
wonder  it  should  be  so  while  the  preachers  coop  themselves  up 
in  a  room  with  twenty  or  thirty  hearers.  I  went  straight  to  the 
market-place  and  cried  aloud,  '  Hearken  !  Behold  a  sower  went 
forth  to  sow.'  God  made  His  word  quick  and  powerful,  and 
sharp  as  a  two-edged  sword.  Abundantly  more  than  the  room 
could  contain  were  present  at  five  in  the  morning.  At  eight  I 
began  in  the  market-place  again  on  '  How  shall  I  give  thee  up, 
Ephraim  ? '  Solemn  attention  sat  on  every  face,  and  God 
repeated  His  call  to  many  hearts.  In  the  evening  I  preached  in 
the  market-place  at  Tullamore. 

Mon.  19. — Between  two  and  three  in  the  morning  was  such 
thunder  and  lightning  as  I  never  knew  in  Europe.  The  crack 
and  the  flash  were  in  the  same  instant.  Most  of  the  houses 
shook,  and  yet  no  hurt  was  done  in  the  whole  town.  But  some 
good  was  done,  for  at  five  o'clock  the  preaching-house  was  quite 
filled,  and  the  inward  voice  of  the  Lord  was  mighty  in  operation. 
This  also  was  '  a  glorious  voice.' 

Tues.  20. — We  had  our  quarterly  meeting  at  Coolalough. 
On    Wednesday   I    preached   at    Clara,   Thursday  the    22nd    at 


Jaiyi762]  John  Manners  in  Dublin  515 

Tyrrell's  Pass,  and  on  Friday  went  on  to  Edenderry.  Here 
I  found  some  who  had  been  long  labouring  in  the  fire  and 
toiling  to  work  themselves  into  holiness.  To  show  them  a  more 
excellent  way,  I  preached  on  Rom  x.  6,  7,  8.  They  found  this 
was  the  very  thing  they  wanted,  and  at  the  meeting  of  the 
society  God  confirmed  the  word  of  His  grace  in  so  powerful  a 
manner  that  many  wondered  how  they  could  help  believing. 

Sat.  24. — I  rode  to  Dublin,  and  found  the  flame  not  only 
continuing,  but  increasing.  The  congregation  used  to  be  small 
on  Saturday  night,  but  it  was  as  large  now  as  formerly  on 
Sunday. 

Mon.  26. — At  five  in  the  morning  the  congregation  was 
larger  than  it  used  to  be  in  the  evening.  And  in  these  two 
days  and  a  half,  four  persons  gave  thanks  for  a  sense  of  God's 
pardoning  mercy,  and  seven  (among  whom  were  a  mother  and 
her  daughter)  for  being  perfected  in  love. 

The  person  by  whom  chiefly  it  pleased  God  to  work  this 
wonderful  work  was  John  Manners,1  a  plain  man  of  middling 
sense,  and  not  eloquent,  but  rather  rude  in  speech  ;  one  who 
had  never  before  been  remarkably  useful,  but  seemed  to  be 
raised  up  for  this  single  work.  And  as  soon  as  it  was  done  he 
fell  into  a  consumption,  languished  a  while,  and  died. 

I  now  found  he  had  not  at  all  exceeded  the  truth  in  the 
accounts  he  had  sent  me  from  time  to  time.  In  one  of  his  first 
letters  after  I  left  the  town  he  says  : 

The  work  here  is  such  as  I  never  expected  to  see.  Some  are 
justified  or  sanctified  almost  every  day.  This  week  three  or  four  were 
justified,  and  as  many,  if  not  more,  renewed  in  love.  The  people  are 
all  on  fire.  Such  a  day  as  last  Sunday  I  never  saw.  While  I  was  at 
prayer  in  the  society  the  power  of  the  Lord  overshadowed  us,  and  some 
cried  out,  '  Lord,  I  can  believe  ! '  The  cry  soon  became  general,  with 
strong  prayers.  Twice  I  attempted  to  sing,  but  my  voice  could  not  be 
heard.  I  then  desired  them  to  restrain  themselves,  and  in  stillness  and 
composure  to  wait  for  the  blessing  ;  on  which  all  but  two  or  three,  who 
could  not  refrain,  came  into  a  solemn  silence.  I  prayed  again,  and  the 
softening  power  of  grace  was  felt  in  many  hearts.     Our  congregations 


1  An  itinerant,  born  at  Sledmore,  near  Mag.    1780,  p.    275,   where  he   gives   a 

Malton,  Yorkshire,  in  1731 ;  he  died  at  short  account  of  himself).     One   of  his 

York  in  1763  in  the  triumph  of  faith  (see  letters  to  Wesley  was  published  in  the 

Atmore's   Memorial,  p.  247,  and  Arm.  Magatine  for  1782,  p.  103. 


5 1 6  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [juiy  mi 

increase  much,  and  I  have  no  doubt  but  we  shall  see  greater  things 
than  these. 

Four  days  after  he  writes  : 

The  work  of  God  increases  every  day.  There  is  hardly  a  day  but 
some  are  justified,  or  sanctified,  or  both.  On  Thursday  three  came  and 
told  me  that  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  had  cleansed  them  from  all  sin. 
One  of  them  told  me  she  had  been  justified  seven  years,  and  had  been 
five  years  convinced  of  the  necessity  of  sanctification.  But  this  easy 
conviction  availed  not.  A  fortnight  since  she  was  seized  with  so  keen 
a  conviction  as  gave  her  no  rest  till  God  had  sanctified  her  and  witnessed 
it  to  her  heart. 

Three  days  after  (May  u)  he  writes  thus : 

God  still  continues  His  marvellous  lovingkindness  to  us.  On 
Sunday  last  Dor[othea]  King  x  entered  into  the  rest.  She  had  been 
seeking  it  for  some  time,  but  her  convictions  and  desires  grew  stronger 
and  stronger  as  the  hour  approached.  A  while  ago  she  told  me  she 
grew  worse  and  worse,  and  her  inward  conflicts  were  greater  than  ever ; 
but  on  the  Lord's  Day  she  felt  an  entire  change,  while  these  words  were 
spoke  to  her  heart  :  '  Thou  art  all  fair,  my  love  ;  there  is  no  spot  in 
thee.'  She  now  walks  in  sweet  peace,  and  rejoices  evermore.  Her 
father  received  the  blessing  a  few  days  before  her,  and  is  exceeding 
happy. 

The  fire  catches  all  that  come  near.  An  old  soldier,2  in  his  return 
from  Germany  to  the  north  of  Ireland,  fell  in  one  night  with  these 
wrestling  Jacobs,  to  his  great  astonishment.  He  was  justified  seventeen 
years  ago,  but  afterward  fell  from  it  for  five  years.  As  he  was  going 
to  Germany,  in  the  beginning  of  the  war,  the  Lord  healed  him  in 
Dublin  ;  and,  in  spite  of  all  the  distresses  of  a  severe  campaign,  he 
walked  in  the  light  continually.  On  his  return  through  London  he 
was  convinced  of  the  necessity  of  sanctification,  and  soon  after  he  came 
hither  his  heart  was  broken  in  pieces  while  he  was  with  a  little  com- 


1  Mrs.   Dorothea    King,    daughter   of  rest   of  perfect  love,    a   blessing  which, 

Thomas   Garrett,  a  native   of  Holland,  fifty-three  years  later,  she  still  retained, 

who   had   settled    in   Dublin,    was    one  Her   father,    Thomas   Garrett,    wrote   a 

of    the     '  memorable    women    of    Irish  diary,  to  which  Mr.  Crookshank  was  to 

Methodism.'      Four    of   her    letters    to  some    extent    indebted    in    writing    his 

Wesley  are  contained  in  the  Arm.  Mag.  history.     She   afterwards   married    John 

for  1781.     For  the  tragic  sacrifice  of  her  Johnson,  a  retired  minister  at   Lisburn. 

marriage,  and  her  conversion,  see  Crook-  See  Crookshank's  Memorable  Women  of 

shank's    Methodism   in    Ireland,    vol.   i.  Irish  Methodism,  p.  53;  above,  p.  157. 
p.    123.     It  was   under   the  ministry  of  "  William   Price   {Arm.    Mag.    1796, 

Mr.  Manners  that  she  entered  into  the  p.  503). 


July  i762.i  John  Manners   in  Dublin  517 

pany  who  met  daily  for  prayer.  One  evening,  as  they  were  going  away, 
he  stopped  them  and  begged  they  would  not  go  till  the  Lord  had 
blessed  him.  They  kneeled  down  again,  and  did  not  cease  wrestling 
with  God  till  he  had  a  witness  that  he  was  saved  from  all  sin. 

The  case  of  Mr.  Timmins  is  no  less  remarkable.  He  had  been 
a  notorious  sinner.  He  was  deeply  wounded  two  months  since.  Ten 
days  ago,  on  a  Friday,  God  spake  peace  to  his  soul.  The  Sunday 
following,  after  a  violent  struggle,  he  sunk  down  as  dead.  He  was 
cold  as  clay.  After  about  ten  minutes  he  came  to  himself,  and  cried, 
'A  new  heart,  a  new  heart!'  He  said  he  felt  himself  in  an  instant 
entirely  emptied  of  sin,  and  filled  with  God.  Brother  Barry  likewise 
had  been  justified  but  a  few  days  before  God  gave  him  purity  of  heart. 

May  1 5  he  writes  : 

God  still  makes  me  a  messenger  of  good  tidings.  His  work  goes 
on.  Our  last  night's  meeting  was  remarkable  for  the  presence  and 
power  of  God,  while  several  were  relating  what  He  had  done.  One 
said,  '  All  that  day  in  which  God  delivered  me,  I  felt  the  blessing  just 
at  hand,  but  could  not  open  my  heart  to  receive  it.  I  was  fast  shut  up 
till,  under  the  sermon  in  the  evening,  I  felt  God  open  my  heart, 
remove  the  bar  of  unbelief,  and  give  me  power  to  receive  the  blessing 
freely.' 

There  are  now  three  places  in  the  city  wherein  as  many  as  have 
opportunity  assemble  day  and  night,  to  pour  out  their  souls  before 
God  for  the  continuance  and  enlargement  of  His  work. 

May  29. — Since  my  last  account  many  have  been  sanctified  and 
several  justified.  One  of  the  former  is  William  Moore.1  He  was  a 
long  time  struggling  for  the  blessing,  and  one  night  he  was  resolved  not 
to  go  to  bed  without  it.  He  continued  wrestling  with  God  for  two 
hours,  when  he  felt  a  glorious  change,  and  the  Spirit  of  God 
witnessing  that  the  work  was  done. 

We  begin  now  to  meet  with  opposition  from  every  quarter.  Some 
say  this  is  rank  enthusiasm  ;  others,  that  it  is  either  a  cheat,  or  mere 
pride  ;  others,  that  it  is  a  new  thing,  and  that  they  can  find  no  such 
thing  in  the  Bible. 

Tune  3. — The  Lord  increases  His  work  in  proportion  to  the 
opposition  it  meets  with.  Between  Monday  morning  and  Tuesday 
night  I  have  had  eight  bills  of  thanksgiving  :  for  two  justified,  three 
renewed  in  love,  and  three  backsliders  healed. 

June  15.— There  is  no  end  of  the  mercies  of  God.     Three  days  of 


Afterwards  unhappily  associated  with  Pawson  at  Bristol  in  1 781.  See  E.M.P. 
a  secession  at  Plymouth  (see  below,  vol.  iv.  p.  49  (reprinted  as  Wesley's 
Feb.    25,    1785).      He    was    with    John        Veterans^  vol.  iv.   p.  56). 


5 1 8  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [juiy  i7«a. 

this  week  are  gone,  in  which  God  has  justified  five  sinners.  On 
Sunday,  in  the  afternoon,  I  preached  at  three  in  the  Barrack  Square, 
and  a  more  solemn  time  I  have  not  seen ;  the  hearers  were  as  many  as 
my  voice  could  reach,  and  all  remarkably  attentive. 

In  the  evening  a  cry  ran  through  the  society,  and  four  were 
justified  that  night.  Two  of  these,  Alexander  Tate  and  his  wife,  were 
but  lately  joined.  The  power  of  God  first  seized  her,  and  constrained 
her  to  cry  aloud  till  she  heard  the  still  small  voice.  He  continued 
calling  upon  God,  and  would  not  cease  before  God  answered  him  also 
in  the  joy  of  his  heart. 

Saturday ,  June  19. — We  have  had  eight  this  week  whose  sins  are 
blotted  out,  and  two  more  have  entered  into  that  rest.  One  of  them 
says  she  has  enjoyed  the  love  of  God  nine  years,  but  felt  as  great  a 
difference  between  that  state  and  the  state  she  is  now  in  as  if  her  soul 
was  taken  into  heaven  ! 

June  26. — Last  week  eleven  were  justified  or  sanctified,  and  this 
week  eleven  more — eight  of  whom  received  remission  of  sins,  and 
three  a  clean  heart ;  and  a  troop  are  waiting  for  the  moving  of  the 
water.  Among  them  whom  the  power  of  God  has  seized  lately  are 
two  eminent  sinners,  each  of  whom  lived  with  a  woman  to  whom  he 
was  never  married.  One  of  them  already  rejoices  in  God,  the  other 
mourns  and  will  not  be  comforted.  But  the  women  are  gone ;  they  put 
away  the  accursed  thing  immediately. 

I  had  much  fear  about  the  children,  lest  our  labour  should  be  lost 
upon  them  ;  but  I  find  we  shall  reap  if  we  faint  not.  Margaret  Roper, 
about  eight  years  old,  has  been  thoughtful  for  some  time.  The  other  day, 
while  they  were  at  family-prayer,  she  burst  into  tears  and  wept  bitterly. 
They  asked  what  was  the  matter.  She  said  she  was  a  great  sinner, 
and  durst  not  pray.  They  bade  her  go  to  bed.  She  no  sooner  came 
into  the  chamber  than  she  began  crying  and  clapping  her  hands,  so 
that  they  heard  her  across  the  street ;  but  God  soon  bound  up  her 
broken  heart.  Being  asked  how  she  felt  herself,  she  said,  '  Ten  times 
better.  Now  I  can  love  God.  I  wish  you  would  sit  up  and  sing  with 
me  all  night.'  She  has  been  happy  ever  since,  and  as  serious  as  one 
of  forty. 

July  3. — Our  joy  is  now  quite  full.  The  flame  rises  higher  and 
higher.  Since  Saturday  last  eight  sinners  more  are  freely  justified, 
and  two  more  renewed  in  love.  Our  house  was  once  large  enough  ; 
now  it  is  scarce  able  to  contain  us  ;  and  we  have  not  many  in  the 
society  who  are  not  either  wrestling  with  God  for  His  love  or  rejoicing 
therein. 

Thus  far  the  account  of  John  Manners,  quite  unadorned,  but 
plain  and  sensible. 


July  1763.)  The   Work  in  Dublin  519 

Upon  further  examination  I  found  three  or  four  and  forty 
in  Dublin  who  seemed  to  enjoy  the  pure  love  of  God.  At 
least  forty  of  these  had  been  set  at  liberty  within  four  months. 
Some  others  who  had  received  the  same  blessing  were  removed 
out  of  the  city.  The  same,  if  not  a  larger  number,  had  found 
remission  of  sins.  Nor  was  the  hand  of  the  Lord  shortened  yet  : 
He  still  wrought  as  swiftly  as  ever. 

In  some  respects  the  work  of  God  in  this  place  was  more 
remarkable  than  even  that  in  London.  (1)  It  is  far  greater,  in 
proportion  to  the  time  and  to  the  number  of  people.  That 
society  had  above  seven-and-twenty  hundred  members  ;  this 
not  a  fifth  part  of  the  number.  Six  months  after  the  flame 
broke  out  there  we  had  about  thirty  witnesses  of  the  great 
salvation.  In  Dublin  there  were  above  forty  in  less  than  four 
months.  (2)  The  work  was  more  pure.  In  all  this  time,  while 
they  were  mildly  and  tenderly  treated,  there  were  none  of  them 
headstrong  or  unadvisable  :  none  that  were  wiser  than  their 
teachers  ;  none  who  dreamed  of  being  immortal  or  infallible,  or 
incapable  of  temptation  ;  in  short,  no  whimsical  or  enthusiastic 
persons.     All  were  calm  and  sober-minded.1 

I  know  several  of  these  were,  in  process  of  time,  moved 
from  their  steadfastness.  I  am  nothing  surprised  at  this  ;  it 
was  no  more  than  might  be  expected.  I  rather  wonder  that 
more  were  not  moved.  Nor  does  this,  in  any  degree,  alter 
my  judgement  concerning  the  great  work  which  God  then 
wrought. 

Tues.  27. — I  received  a  comfortable  letter  from  Edenderry  : 
'  When  you  came  hither  Satan  had  gained  such  an  advantage 
over  us  that  few,  even  of  the  society,  would  read  your  sermons, 
saying  they  were  nothing  but  the  law  ;  but  God  has  now  taught 
us  better.  His  power  fell  upon  us  first  in  the  preaching,  but 
abundantly  more  when  the  society  met.  At  that  time  many 
who  were  in  heaviness  were  filled  with  consolation,  and  two  of 


1  Wesley's    views    at    this    time,    on  sermon,    No.    LXX,    '  On   the   Case   of 

Faith,     Religious    Enthusiasm,    and     a  Reason  Impartially  Considered '  (Works, 

'reasonable   service'    may   be    gathered  vol.    v.   p.  350).       It   may   be   well    to 

from  a  note  he  wrote  in  the  Journal  on  remember    that    his   carefully   reasoned 

Oct.  28,  1762  (see  below,  p.  532),  with  letter  to  Maxfield  was  written  on  Monday, 

which  it  is  instructive   to   compare   his  Nov.  1,  in  the  same  year. 


520  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Juiyi76i. 

the  old  believers  were  constrained  to  declare  they  believed  God 
had  cleansed  them  from  all  sin.' 

Wed.  28. ' — I  received  farther  accounts  from  Limerick  -  ;  one 
letter  ran  thus : 

July  20,  1 762. 

There  is  a  glorious  work  going  on  at  Limerick.  Twelve  or  fourteen 
have  a  clear  sense  of  being  renewed ;  several  have  been  justified  this 
week ;  and  on  Sunday  night,  at  the  meeting  of  the  society,  there  was 
such  a  cry  as  I  scarce  ever  heard  before,  such  confession  of  sins,  such 
pleading  with  the  Lord,  and  such  a  spirit  of  prayer,  as  if  the  Lord 
Himself  had  been  visibly  present  among  us.  Some  received  remission 
of  sins,  and  several  were  just  brought  to  the  birth.  All  were  in  floods 
of  tears ;  they  trembled,  they  cried,  they  prayed,  they  roared  aloud,  all 
of  them  lying  on  the  ground.  I  began  to  sing,  yet  they  could  not  rise, 
but  sang  as  they  lay  along.  When  we  concluded  some  of  them  could 
not  go  away,  but  stayed  in  the  house  all  night ;  and,  blessed  be  our 
Lord,  they  all  hitherto  walk  worthy  of  their  calling. 

Another  writes  : 

I  will  just  tell  you  the  Lord  has  made  your  last  visit  to  us  a  great 
blessing.  Such  times  were  never  before  in  Limerick.  The  fire  which 
broke  out  before  you  left  us  is  now  spreading  on  every  side.  Four 
were  happy  before  you  left  us ;  several  others  can  now  '  rejoice  ever- 
more '  and  '  pray  without  ceasing.'  And  this  certainly  they  could  not 
do  did  they  not  love  God  with  all  their  heart. 

A  third  letter,  dated  July  25,  says  : 

Blessed  be  God,  His  word  runs  swiftly.  Last  night  His  power  was 
present  indeed,  and  another  was  assured  that  God,  who  had  before 
forgiven  his  sins,  had  now  cleansed  him  from  all  unrighteousness. 
There  are  now  ten  women  and  thirteen  men  who  witness  the  same 
confession,  and  their  lives  agree  thereto.  Eight  have  lately  received 
the  remission  of  their  sins,  and  many  are  on  the  full  stretch  for  God, 
and  just  ready  to  step  into  the  pool. 


1  The  fifth  Irish  Conference,  the  record  Swindells.      Deaves,     Davis,     Roberts, 

of  which  Mr.  Thomas  Garrett  preserved  Guilford,   Lee,   and    Harris ' — nearly,   if 

in  his  diary,  was  held  on  July  28.     He  not  all,  the  preachers  then  in   Ireland, 

writes  :    •  Have  had  a  good  time  of  it  Thomas   Rourke  was  received  into  the 

since    Mr.   Wesley   and    the    preachers  itinerancy.     (Crookshank's  Methodism  in 

came   amongst    us.      z<)th. — Last   night  Ireland,  vol.  i.  p.  165.) 

was  a  watch-night,  when  we  had  nine  or  -  A  letter  from  Wesley  to  Blackwell 

ten    preachers,    the    greatest   number   I  describes  the  troubled   state  of  Ireland 

remember  to  have  seen  *t  one   time —  at   that    time.     See    W.M.   Mag.    1848, 

Messrs.    J.    Wesley,     Manners,     Kead,  p.  780. 


July  1762]  From  Dublin  to  Parkgate  521 

Hence  it  appears  that,  in  proportion  to  the  time,  which  was 
only  three  or  four  weeks,  and  the  number  of  hearers  (not  one 
half,  if  a  third  part),  the  work  of  God  was  greater  in  Limerick 
than  even  in  Dublin  itself. 

Thur.  29. — I  was  informed  l  of  a  remarkable  instance  of 
divine  mercy.  A  harmless,  unawakened  young  woman  came 
to  one  of  the  meetings  for  prayer  in  Dublin.  While  they  were 
praying  she  felt  herself  a  sinner,  and  began  crying  aloud  for 
mercy.  And  when  they  rose  to  go  away  she  cried  with  a  bitter 
cry,  '  What,  must  I  go  without  Christ  ? '  They  began  praying 
again,  and  in  a  short  time  she  was  as  loud  in  praising  God  for 
His  pardoning  mercy. 

No  less  remarkable  was  the  case  of  Alexander  Tate.  He 
and  his  wife  were  present  where  a  few  were  met  for  prayer. 
Her  sorrow  was  soon  turned  into  joy.  Her  husband,  who  was 
before  little  awakened,  was  just  then  cut  to  the  heart  and  felt 
the  wrath  of  God  abiding  on  him  ;  nor  did  he  cease  crying  to 
God  till  his  prayers  and  tears  were  swallowed  up  in  thanks- 
giving. So  here  are  two  instances  of  persons  both  convinced 
and  converted  in  the  same  hour.2 

Sat.  31. — Although  I  never  before  felt  such  a  union  of 
heart  with  the  people  of  Dublin,  yet,  believing  my  present  work 
in  Ireland  was  ended,  I  cheerfully  commended  them  to  God, 
and  embarked  on  board  the  Dorset  for  Parkgate.  We  weighed 
anchor  at  eight  in  the  evening.  Between  nine  and  ten  on 
Sunday  morning  the  captain 3  asked  me  if  I  would  not  go  to 
prayers    with   them.     All    who    were   able   to   creep   out   were 


1  Probably  he  received  these  and  other  of  Clapham,  to  the  living  of  Roche  in 
accounts  from  the  Irish  preachers  assem-  1766.  He  is  described  as  '  a  faithful 
bled  at  the  Conference,  which,  strange  to  and  zealous  preacher  :  rather  a  Boanerges 
say,  he  does  not  refer  to  in  his  Journal.  than  a  Barnabas. '     Life  of  Countess  of 

2  On  the  30th  he  wrote  to  his  'old  Huntingdon,-  vol.  ii.  p.  2  (see  one  of 
acquaintance  Mr.  Furly  (see  below,  Sept.  Wesley's  letters  to  him  in  Arm.  Mag. 
14,  1768).     The  letter  was  published  in  1782,  p.  40).     He  died  in  1795. 

the  IV.  M.   Mag.   1856,   p.   987.      It  may  3  Captain    Caulder.      For   information 

be  convenient  here  to  explain  this  friend-  concerning   Wesley's   forty-two   voyages 

ship.     Samuel  Furly  was  connected  with  across  the  Irish  Sea,  the  ships  in  which 

the  Methodists.     While  at  Cambridge  he  he  sailed,  and  their  captains,  see  W.H.S. 

formed  a  friendship  with  Venn.     After  vol.  v.  pp.  75-8  ;  also  Rev.  F.  F.  Brether- 

ministering  at  Lakenheath,  Kippax,  and  ton  on  'John  Wesley's  Voyages  to  and 

Slaithwaite  (where  he  was  very  success-  from  Parkgate,'  Meth.  Rec.  Winter  No., 

ful),  he  was  presented  by  Mr.  Thornton,  1903,  p.  49. 


522  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Aug.  1702. 

willingly  present.  After  prayers  I  preached  on  Prov.  iii.  17. 
We  had  scarce  any  wind  when  I  began,  but  while  I  was  preach- 
ing it  sprung  up,  and  brought  us  to  Parkgate  between  six  and 
seven. 

AUG.  2,  Mon. — I  rode  on  to  Chester.  Never  was  the  society 
in  such  a  state  before.  Their  jars  and  contentions  were  at  an 
end,  and  I  found  nothing  but  peace  and  love  among  them. 
About  twelve  of  them  believed  they  were  saved  from  sin,  and 
their  lives  did  not  contradict  their  profession.  Most  of  the  rest 
were  strongly  athirst  for  God,  and  looking  for  Him  continually. 

Tues.  3. — I  was  desired  to  preach  at  Northwich,  and  one  had 
stuck  up  notices  in  all  parts  of  the  town.  But  what  place  had 
they  for  me  to  preach  in  ?  Only  a  little  room  which  would  hold 
about  fifty  people.1  Between  twelve  and  one  they  gathered 
from  all  parts,  noisy  and  rude  enough.2  I  could  not  stand  in 
the  yard  without  just  facing  the  sun,  so  I  stood  at  the  casement, 
that  those  without  might  hear — that  is,  if  they  had  a  mind  to  it. 
But  a  great  part  of  them  had  no  such  intention  ;  they  came  only 
either  for  sport  or  mischief.  However,  they  were  pretty  quiet 
till  I  had  done.  Our  friends  would  then  have  persuaded  me  to 
stay  till  the  mob  was  dispersed,  but,  as  they  grew  louder,  and 
louder,  I  judged  it  best  to  walk  immediately  through  the  midst 
of  them.  Many  things  were  thrown,  but  nothing  touched  me 
till  1  took  horse  and  rode  to  Manchester. 

Here  I  received  letters  from  Congleton,  in  Cheshire,  and 
Burslem,  in  Staffordshire.3     Part  of  the  former  ran  thus  : 

August  1,  1762. 

The  work  of  God  for  some  time  stood  still  here,  but  at  the  love- 
feast  on  the  2 1  st  of  March  last  (glory  for  ever  be  to  God  !),  there  was 
an  outpouring  of  His  Spirit  among  us.  Five  persons  were  assured  of 
their  acceptance  with  God,  of  whom,  by  His  free  grace,  I  was  one ; 
four  believed  He  had  not  only  forgiven  their  sins,  but  likewise  cleansed 


1  The    old     Congregational     Chapel,  the   bridge   into  the  river  {Arm.  Mag. 
Crown    Street,    Hobson's    old    printing  1795,  p.  76  ;  Mtth.  Mag.  1830,  p.  857). 
works.     See   '  Northwich  and  its  Early  '  See  fully,  and  with  extremely  inter- 
Methodism,'  Mtth.  Kec.  Oct.  22,  1908.  esting  detail,  in  the  life  of  John   Furz, 

7  It  is  suggested  that  this  probably  was  one  of  the  most  remarkable  of  the  early 

the  occasion  when  the  mob  tried  to  throw  preachers  (E.M.P.   vol.  v.  pp.  127-30), 

Mr.  Morris,  who  was  with  Wesley,  over  and  Atmore's  Memorial,  pp.  148-54. 


Aug.  1762.)  Liverpool  and  Bolton  523 

them  from  all  unrighteousness.     Many  more  have  since  found   Him 
gracious  and  merciful ;  nor  is  His  hand  yet  stayed  at  all. 

Part  of  the  other  is  as  follows  : 

Before  Mr.  Furz  came  into  these  parts  we  were  biting  and  devouring 
one  another,  and  many  who  once  had  known  God  were  '  in  their  works 
denying  Him.'  The  society  in  general  was  cold  and  dead,  and  only 
two  were  converted  to  God  in  a  whole  year.  But,  glory  be  to  God,  the 
case  is  now  altered.  Those  grievances  are  removed.  The  power  of 
God  is  present  with  us,  and  the  fire  of  His  love  is  kindled  among  us. 
We  are  very  weak,  but,  blessed  be  God,  we  are  all  alive.  Many  are 
crying  out  in  the  bitterness  of  their  souls,  '  God  be  merciful  to  me, 
a  sinner  ! '  Sometimes  we  have  had  two,  at  other  times  six  or  seven, 
justified  in  one  week ;  others  find  the  very  remains  of  sin  destroyed, 
and  wait  to  be  filled  '  with  all  the  fullness  of  God.' 

Wed.  4. — I  rode  to  Liverpool,  where  also  was  such  a  work 
of  God  as  had  never  been  known  there  before.  We  had  a 
surprising  congregation  in  the  evening,  and,  as  it  seemed,  all 
athirst  for  God.  This,  I  found,  had  begun  here  likewise  in  the 
latter  end  of  March,  and  from  that  time  it  had  continually 
increased  till  a  little  before  I  came.  Nine  were  justified  in  one 
hour.  The  next  morning  I  spoke  severally  with  those  who 
believed  they  were  sanctified.  They  were  fifty-one  in  all — 
twenty-one  men,  twenty-one  widows  or  married  women,  and 
nine  young  women  or  children.  In  one  of  these  the  change 
was  wrought  three  weeks  after  she  was  justified  ;  in  three, 
seven  days  after  it  ;  in  one,  five  days  ;  and  in  Sus.  Lutwich, 
aged  fourteen,  two  days  only.  I  asked  Hannah  Blakeley,  aged 
eleven,  '  What  do  you  want  now  ?  '  She  said,  with  amazing 
energy,  the  tears  running  down  her  cheeks,  '  Nothing  in  this 
world,  nothing  but  more  of  my  Jesus.'  How  often  '  out  of  the 
mouth  of  babes  and  sucklings'  dost  Thou  '  perfect  praise  ' ! 

Fri.  6. — I  was  informed  of  the  flame  which  had  broken  out 
at  Bolton.  One,  writing  to  Mr.  Furz,  described  a  little  of  it  in 
the  following  words  :  '  Glory  be  to  God,  He  is  doing  wonders 
among  us  !  Since  you  left  us  there  have  been  seven  (if  not 
more)  justified,  and  six  sanctified,  at  one  meeting.  Two  of 
these  were,  I  think,  justified  and  sanctified  in  less  than  three 
days.  Oh  what  a  meeting  was  our  last  class-meeting !  In 
three  minutes,  or  less,  God,  quite  unexpectedly,  convinced  an 


5  24  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Aug.  1762. 

old  opposer  of  the  truth  and  wounded  many.  I  never  felt  the 
abiding  presence  of  God  so  exceeding  powerful  before.' 

I  preached  at  Macclesfield  in  the  evening  to  a  people  ready 
prepared  for  the  Lord.  An  impetuous  shower  began  just  as  we 
came  into  the  town,  but  it  did  us  no  hurt.  Inquiring  how  the 
revival  here  began,  I  received  the  following  account:  In  March 
last,  after  a  long  season  of  dryness  and  barrenness,  one  Monday 
night  John  Oldham  1  preached.  When  he  had  done,  and  was 
going  away,  a  man  fell  down  and  cried  aloud  for  mercy.  In  a 
short  time  so  did  several  others.  He  came  back  and  wrestled 
with  God  in  prayer  for  them.  About  twelve  he  retired,  leaving 
some  of  the  brethren,  who  resolved  to  wrestle  on  till  they  had 
an  answer  of  peace.  They  continued  in  prayer  till  six  in  the 
morning,  and  nine  prisoners  were  set  at  liberty. 

They  met  again  the  next  night,  and  six  or  seven  more  were 
filled  with  peace  and  joy  in  believing.  So  were  one  or  two  more 
every  night  till  the  Monday  following,  when  there  was  another 
general  shower  of  grace,  and  many  believed  that  the  blood  of 
Christ  had  cleansed  them  from  all  sin. 

I  spoke  to  these  (forty  in  all)  one  by  one.  Some  of  them 
said  they  received  that  blessing  ten  days,  some  seven,  some 
four,  some  three  days,  after  they  found  peace  with  God  ;  and 
two  of  them  the  next  day.  What  marvel,  since  one  day  is  with 
God  as  a  thousand  years  ? 

The  case  of  Ann  Hooly2  was  peculiar.  She  had  often 
declared,  '  The  Methodists'  God  shall  not  be  my  God.  I  will 
sooner  go  to  hell  than  I  will  go  to  heaven  in  their  way.'  She 
was  standing  in  the  street  with  two  young  women  when 
John  Oldham,  passing  by,  spoke  to  one  and  the  other,  and 
went  on.  She  burst  into  tears,  and  said,  '  What !  am  I  so  great 
a  sinner  that  he  won't  speak  to  me  ? '  About  twelve  he  was  sent 
for  in  haste.  He  found  her  in  deep  distress  ;  but  continued  in 
prayer  till  all  her  trouble  was  gone,  and  her  spirit  rejoiced 
in  God  her  Saviour.  Yet  three  nights  after  she  was  in  much 
distress  again,  crying,  '  I  have  a  wicked  heart,  and  I  cannot  rest 
till  God  takes  it  away.'     He  did  so  in  a  few  hours.     Ever  since 


1  See  Benjamin  Smith's  Methodism  in       1766.      See    also    Atmore's     Memorial, 
MacchsJUld,   p.  62.     John  Oldham  was       p.   300. 
one  of  the  first  itinerants.     He  died  in  2  Set  Methodism  in  Macclesfield,  p.  70. 


Aug.  1762.] 


Return  to  London  525 


she  has  been  a  pattern  to  all  the  young  people  in  the  town. 
She  was  thirteen  years  old.  In  about  a  year  her  spirit  returned 
to  God. 

Sat.  7. — I  made  one  more  trial  at  Northwich,  preaching 
in  Mr.  Page's  yard.1  Abundance  of  people  flocked  together  ; 
nor  did  any  one  oppose,  or  make  the  least  disturbance.  And 
when  I  afterward  rode  quite  through  the  town  I  had  not  one 
uncivil  word. 

In  the  evening  I  spoke  with  those  at  Manchester  who 
believed  God  had  cleansed  their  hearts.  They  were  sixty- 
three  in  number  ;  to  about  sixty  of  whom  I  could  not  find  there 
was  any  reasonable  objection. 

Mon.  9. — I  preached  at  Elland  and  Birstall  in  my  way  to 
Leeds,  where  our  Conference  began  on  Tuesday  morning,2 
and  we  had  great  reason  to  praise  God  for  His  gracious  presence 
from  the  beginning  to  the  end. 

Sun.  15. — I  preached  about  one  at  Birstall,  and  in  the 
morning  and  evening  at  Leeds.  I  then  rode  about  eighteen 
miles.  On  Monday  morning  I  preached  at  Sheffield,  and  in 
the  evening  came  to  Derby.3  I  had  sent  word  that  I  did  not 
intend  to  preach  ;  but,  after  I  had  rested  a  while  in  my  chamber, 
coming  down  and  finding  the  house  full  of  people,  I  spoke  to 
them  half  an  hour  in  a  familiar  manner,  and  then  spent  some 
time  in  prayer.  I  believe  God  touched  some  of  their  hearts  ; 
indeed  it  seemed  none  were  unmoved. 

Tues.  17. — We  rode  to  Northampton,  the  next  day  to 
Sundon,  and  on   Thursday  the   19th  to  London. 

Fri.  20. — As  I  expected,  the  sower  of  tares  had  not  been  idle 
during  my  five  months'  absence  ;  but  I  believe  great  part  of  his 
work  was  undone  in  one  hour,  when  we  met  at   West  Street. 


1  See  above,  p.  522.  son,    and   in   the    house    of    the    latter 

2  The  nineteenth  Conference.  Lady  Wesley  most  likely  stayed  (see  below, 
Huntingdon,  J.  Wesley,  C.  Wesley,  March  27,  1764,  and  Meth.  Rec.  Winter 
Whitefield,  Romaine,  Madan,  and  Venn  No.,  1896,  p.  35).  It  is  thought  that 
were  present ;  of  the  proceedings  we  Mrs.  Crosby,  under  the  disguise  of 
know  nothing,  except  what  little  is  '  Sarah  Williamson,'  is  probably  the 
stated  by  Mr.  Story  in  E.M.P.  vol.  v.  'blessed  woman'  referred  to  in  Adam 
p.  237.  Bede  as  Dinah  Morris's  chief  friend  in 

1  Methodism     had     been     introduced  the  society  at  Leeds.    She  came  to  Derby 

into  this  town  in  the  previous  year   by  with  those  devoted  London  Methodists, 

Mrs.  Crosby  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dobin-  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dobinson. 


526  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Aug.i7«2. 

I  pointed  out  to  those  who  had  more  heat  than  light  the  snares 
which  they  had  wellnigh  fallen  into.  And  hitherto  they  were 
of  a  humble,  teachable  spirit.  So  for  the  present  the  snare 
was  broken. 

Sat.  21. — My  brother  and  I  had  a  long  conversation  with 
Mr.  Maxfield,  and  freely  told  him  whatever  we  disliked.  In 
some  things  we  found  he  had  been  blamed  without  cause ; 
others  he  promised  to  alter  ;  so  we  were  thoroughly  satisfied 
with  the  conversation,  believing  all  misunderstandings  were 
now  removed. 

Mon.  23. — I  set  out,  and  on  Tuesday  reached  Bristol. 
After  spending  two  days  there,  on  Friday  the  27th  I  set  out 
for  the  west ;  and,  having  preached  at  Shepton  [Mallet]  and 
Middlezoy  in  the  way,  came  on  Saturday  to  Exeter.  When 
I  began  the  service  there  the  congregation  (beside  ourselves) 
were  two  women  and  one  man.  Before  I  had  done  the  room 
was  about  half  full.     This  comes  of  omitting  field-preaching. 

Sun.  29. — I  preached  at  eight  on  Southernhay  Green,  to 
an  extremely  quiet  congregation.  At  the  cathedral  we  had 
a  useful  sermon,  and  the  v/hole  service  was  performed  with 
great  seriousness  and  decency.     Such  an  organ  l  I  never  saw  or 


1  The   organ  Wesley   saw   and  heard  Anthems,  &c,  edited  by  Richard  Langdon 

was   built  by  John  Loosemore  in  1665,  'The    Communion     Hymn — Gloria     in 

enlarged  in  1713,  and  rebuilt  by  Jordan  Excelsis '  set  to  music  by  Rev.  Tobias 

in  1 741.     It  had  a  great  reputation  for  Langdon     (Prebendary,    grandfather    of 

the   excellence   of  its   tone,  and   for   its  Richard  Langdon)  of  Bodwyn,  Cornwall, 

being  the  first  English  organ  to  be  pro-  Subchanter,  Priest- Vicar,  and  master  of 

vided   with  a  double  diapason.     It   has  the  choristers  belonging  to  the  Cathedral 

been  restored,  improved,   enlarged   and  Church    of    Exeter.        This     collection, 

finally  rebuilt  in  1888,  and  for  beauty  of  entitled     Divine     Harmony,    &c,    was 

tone  is  still  unsurpassed.      Loosemore's  printed    for    the    editor    by    Longman, 

original  case,  an  elegant  piece  of  Renais-  Lukey  &  Co.,  26  Cheapside,  1774. 
sance   work,  though    deepened,    is    but  It   was   the   custom  when  Dr.   Wood 

little  altered.     The  organist  in  1762  was  went  to  Exeter  (a  custom  which  doubtless 

Richard  Langdon,  whose  chant  in  F  is  had  obtained   for   many  years)    for   the 

No.  219  in  the  Methodist  Choir  Chant-  boys  of  the  choir  to  remain  on  one  Sun- 

Book,    1910.     Samuel  Sebastian   Wesley  day  of  each   month  to  the   end   of  the 

was  organist   from    1835  to    1842.     Dr.  Communion  Service  and  sing  the  Gloria 

Wood,    the   present   organist   of  Exeter  in  Excelsis.     It  is  quite  conceivable  that 

Cathedral  1(1912),  who  has  supplied  the  the  simple  and  expressive  melody  sung 

above   information,  has  found  what   he  by  fresh  young  voices  would  make  a  deep 

thinks  is  probably  the  identical  compo-  impression  on  Wesley's  mind  and  heart, 
sition  referred  to  by  Wesley.     It  is  one  Another  Exeter  Cathedral  custom  was 

of  the  pieces  in  a  collection  of  Psalms,  recalled    by    Wesley's     closing     words. 


Sept  1762.] 


In  Cornwall  527 


heard  before,  so  large,  beautiful,  and  so  finely  toned  ;  and  the 
music  of  '  Glory  be  to  God  in  the  highest,'  I  think,  exceeded 
the  Messiah  itself.  I  was  well  pleased  to  partake  of  the  Lord's 
Supper  with  my  old  opponent,  Bishop  Lavington.1  Oh  may  we 
sit  down  together  in  the  kingdom  of  our  Father  ! 

At  five  I  went  to  Southernhay  Green  again,  and  found  a 
multitude  of  people  ;  but  a  lewd,  profane,  drunken  vagabond 
had  so  stirred  up  many  of  the  baser  sort  that  there  was  much 
noise,  hurry,  and  confusion.  While  I  was  preaching  several 
things  were  thrown,  and  much  pains  taken  to  overturn  the 
table  ;  and,  after  I  concluded,  many  endeavoured  to  throw  me 
down,  but  I  walked  through  the  midst  and  left  them. 

Mon.  30. — We  rode  to  Plymouth  Dock. 

SEPT.  i,  Wed. — I  came  about  two  to  Polperro,  a  little 
village  four  hours'  drive  from  Plymouth  Passage,  surrounded 
with  huge  mountains.  However,  abundance  of  people  had 
found  the  way  thither.  And  so  had  Satan  too  ;  for  an  old  grey- 
headed sinner  was  bitterly  cursing  all  the  Methodists  just  as 
we  came  into  the  town.  However,  God  gave  His  blessing,  both 
to  us  and  the  congregation. 

In  the  evening  I  preached  at  Medrose,  the  next  evening  in 
St.  Austell,  and  on  Friday  the  3rd  at  Mevagissey. 

Sat.  4. — After  preaching  in  Grampound  I  rode  on  to  Truro. 
I  almost  expected  there  would  be  some  disturbance,1  as  it  was 
market-day,  and  I  stood  in  the  street  at  a  small  distance  from 
the  market.  But  all  was  quiet.  Indeed,  both  persecution  and 
popular  tumult  seem  to  be  forgotten  in  Cornwall. 

Sun.  5. — As  I  was  enforcing,  in  the  same  place,  those 
solemn   words,  '  God  forbid  that   I   should    glory,   save   in    the 


'  When,'  writes  Dr.  Wood,  '  I  first  came  versialist,   now   at    peace    with  Wesley, 

here  it  was  the  custom  for  the  communi-  died  on  Sept.  13  of  this  year, 

cants  to  seat  themselves  in  alternate  rows  -  Tyerman   (vol.  ii.    p.    449,    quoting 

of  chairs,  and  the    bread  and  wine  was  The  Christian  Miscellany,  1865,  p.  284), 

carried  to  them  by  the  officiating  clergy.'  seems  to  assume  that  Wesley's  expecta- 

They  literally  '  sat  down  together.'     See  tion  of  a  disturbance  in  Truro  arose  from 

also  below,  Auy.  18,  1782.  his    recollection    of    an     extraordinary 

1  See    above,    p.    3.      See    also    the  episode  that  occurred  some  years  before. 

account  given  in  the  Life  of  the  Countess  But  more  probably  he  remembered  that 

of  Huntingdon,  vol.  i.  pp.  95,  9^,  of  a  his    old    friend     the     vicar    of    Truro, 

spurious    Charge,   and    Lavington's  de-  Mr.    Walker,    was   no   longer    there   to 

claration     thereon.        The    old    contro-  quell  the  mob. 


5  28  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [SePt.i762. 

cross  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,'  a  poor  man  began  to  make 
some  tumult ;  but  many  cried  out,  '  Constables,  take  him  away.' 
They  did  so,  and  the  hurry  was  over.  At  one  I  preached  in 
the  main  street  at  Redruth,  where  rich  and  poor  were  equally 
attentive.  The  wind  was  so  high  at  five  that  I  could  not  stand 
in  the  usual  place  at  Gwennap.  But  at  a  small  distance  was 
a  hollow  capable  of  containing  many  thousand  people.1  I  stood 
on  one  side  of  this  amphitheatre  toward  the  top,  with  the  people 
beneath  and  on  all  sides,  and  enlarged  on  those  words  in  the 
Gospel  for  the  day  (Luke  x.  23,  24),  '  Blessed  are  the  eyes 
which  see  the  things  that  ye  see,  and  .  .  .  hear  the  things  that 
ye  hear.' 

Mon.  6. — I  preached  at  Penryn  ;  Tuesday  the  7th  at  Porkellis, 
about  one  o'clock.  Thence  I  rode  on  to  Mullion,  near  the 
Lizard  Point.  A  man  who  was  a  sinner  gladly  received  us, 
for  he  knew  God  had  received  him — having  been  deeply 
convinced  of  sin  the  last  time  I  preached  near  Helston,  and 
not  long  after  filled  with  peace  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost. 

A  flame  was  kindled  almost  as  soon  as  I  began  to  speak, 
which  increased  more  and  more  all  the  time  I  was  preaching, 
as  well  as  during  the  meeting  of  the  society.  How  tender  are 
the  hearts  of  this  people !  Such  is  the  advantage  of  true 
Christian  simplicity ! 

Wed.  8. — The  congregation  at  St.  John's,  near  Helston,  was 
thrice  as  large  as  when  I  was  there  before.  The  next  day  I 
preached  at  Crowan  at  noon,  and  at  Penhale  (in  Breage)  in  the 
evening. 

Fri.  10. — I  preached  on  St.  Hilary  Downs  to  a  congregation 
gathered  from  all  parts.  Abundance  of  them  were  athirst  for 
God  ;  and  He  did  not  deceive  their  hope.  The  cry  of  the 
mourners  went  up  before  Him,  and  He  sent  down  an  answer 
of  peace. 

Sat.  11. — I  preached  at  one  on  the  cliff,  near  Penzance,*  and 
in  the  evening  at  Newlyn. 

Sun.  12. — At  eight  God  was  in  the  midst,  and  many  hearts 
were  broken  in  pieces.    Between  one  and  two  I  preached  at  San- 

'  The    famous     Gwennap    pit.      See       in    1799  see  Meth.  Mag.   1828,    p.  368. 
W.H.S.  vol.  iv.  pp.  86  and  191.    For  the  2  At  the  east  end  of  the  town,  over- 

institution  of  the  Whit-Monday  service       looking  the  Mount's  Bay. 


taptnaa.]  In  Cornwall  529 

creed,  where  I  never  was  before.  Abundance  of  strangers  came 
from  every  side  ;  and  I  believe  not  many  went  empty  away. 
Hence  we  rode  to  St.  Just,  where  I  spent  two  comfortable  nights, 
the  congregations  being  very  large,  evening  and  morning. 

Tues.  14. — I  preached  in  Lelant  about  one,  and,  in  the 
evening,  near  the  quay  at  St.  Ives.  Two  or  three  pretty  butter- 
flies came,  and  looked,  and  smiled,  and  went  away  ;  but  all  the 
rest  of  the  numerous  congregation  behaved  with  the  utmost 
seriousness. 

Wed.  15. — We  had  our  Quarterly  Meeting.  The  next  day 
I  appointed  the  children  to  meet.  I  expected  twenty,  but  I 
suppose  we  had  fourscore  ;  all  of  them  wanting,  many  desiring, 
instruction. 

The  more  I  converse  with  the  believers  in  Cornwall,  the 
more  I  am  convinced  that  they  have  sustained  great  loss  for 
want  of  hearing  the  doctrine  of  Christian  Perfection  clearly 
and  strongly  enforced.  I  see,  wherever  this  is  not  done,  the 
believers  grow  dead  and  cold.  Nor  can  this  be  prevented  but 
by  keeping  up  in  them  an  hourly  expectation  of  being 
perfected  in  love.  I  say  an  hourly  expectation  ;  for  to  expect 
it  at  death,  or  some  time  hence,  is  much  the  same  as  not 
expecting  it  at  all.1 

Fri.  17. — At  one  I  preached  in  Illogan  ;  at  six  near  Red- 
ruth, at  a  gentleman's  house,2  in  a  large  court,  shaded  with  trees. 
It  was  so  calm  that  hardly  a  leaf  moved. 

Sat.  18. — I  preached  once  more  in  the  street  at  Redruth,  and 
in  St.  Agnes  in  the  evening.  I  preached  again  at  eight  in  the 
morning,  and  afterwards  heard  an  excellent  sermon  at  church, 
preached  by  the  rector,  Mr.  Walker,  elder  brother  to  the  late 
Mr.  Walker  of  Truro.3  He  likewise  gave  notice  of  his  design  to 
preach  in  the  afternoon  a  funeral  sermon  for  Mr.  Phelps,  his 
late  curate,  a  man  eminently  humble,  serious,  and  zealous  for 
God.  He  was  snatched  away  by  a  fever  three  weeks  since, 
as  was  his  predecessor,  Mr.  Vowler,4  three  or  four  years  before  : 
another  upright,  zealous  servant  of  God,  and  indefatigable  in  his 

1  On  Sept.  15  he  wrote  trom  St.  Ives  2  Probably     Trewergie,     Mr.    Pearse 

to  Miss  Furly  ( Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  207)  ;  Jenkin's  home, 
and  to  the  Rev.  Samuel  Furly  ( Works,  a  See  above,  p.  406. 

vol.  xii.  p.  365,  and  Tyerman,  ii.  p.  452).  *  See  above,  p.  234. 

VOL.    IV  32 


53°  John    Wesley  s  Journal  [Septi7«. 

labour.  How  strange  a  providence  is  this  !  Who  can  account 
for  it  ?  Did  the  God  of  love  take  them  away  that  they  might 
not,  out  of  zeal  for  Him,  continue  to  oppose  their  fellow 
labourers  in  the  gospel  ? 

Mr.  Walker  gave  him  his  due  praise  in  a  strong  and  pathetic 
sermon,  well  wrote  and  well  pronounced  ;  concluding  with, 
1  God  grant  me  (and  I  believe  you  will  all  join  in  the  petition), 
like  him  to  live,  like  him  to  die.' 

Just  as  the  service  was  ended  it  began  to  rain  ;  the  wind 
also  was  exceeding  high.  This  created  some  difficulty.  No 
house  could  contain  the  people,  neither  could  I  preach,  as 
before,  on  the  top  of  the  hill.  I  therefore  made  a  halt  at  the 
bottom.  The  congregation  gathered  round  me  in  a  few 
minutes.  We  were  tolerably  sheltered  from  the  wind,  and  the 
rain  ceased  till  I  had  done.  I  particularly  advised  all  that 
feared  God  to  confirm  their  love  to  each  other,  and  to  provoke 
each  other,  not  to  doubtful  disputations,  but  to  love  and  to 
good  works. 

The  night  came  on  soon  after  we  were  on  horseback,  and  we 
had  eight  miles  to  ride.  In  about  half  an  hour  it  was  so  dark 
I  could  not  see  my  hand,  and  it  rained  incessantly.  However, 
a  little  after  eight,  God  brought  us  safe  to  Cubert.  I  preached 
at  the  church  town  the  next  day,  and  on  Tuesday  the  21st 
rode  on  to  Port  Isaac.  Here  the  stewards  of  the  eastern  circuit 
met.  What  a  change  is  wrought  in  one  year's  time  !  That 
detestable  practice  of  cheating  the  King  is  no  more  found  in 
our  societies.  And  since  that  accursed  thing  has  been  put 
away,  the  work  of  God  has  everywhere  increased.  This  society, 
in  particular,  is  more  than  doubled  ;  and  they  are  all  alive 
to  God. 

Fri.  24. — About  two  I  preached  at  Trewalder,  and  found 
God  was  there  also  ;  but  more  abundantly  at  Camelford  in  the 
evening,  as  well  as  at  five  on  Saturday  morning.  In  the  after- 
noon, the  rain  intermitting,  I  preached  in  the  market-place ;  and 
it  was  a  solemn  season. 

Sun.  26. — After  preaching  at  eight  I  left  Camelford,  now 
one  of  the  liveliest  places  in  Cornwall.  About  noon  I  preached 
at  Trewint.     It  was  fifteen  years  since  I  preached  there  before.1 

1  See  above,  vol.  iii.  p.  194. 


Oct.  17W.] 


In  the   West  531 


Hence  I  rode  to  Launceston,  to  a  people  as  dead  as  those  at 
Camelford  were  once.  Yet  how  soon  may  these  also  be 
quickened,  by  the  voice  that  raiseth  the  dead  ! 

Mon.  27. — I  rode  to  Week  St.  Mary.  It  was  a  kind  of  fair- 
day,  and  the  people  were  come  far  and  near  for  wrestling  and 
other  diversions  ;  but  they  found  a  better  way  of  employing 
their  time,  for  young  and  old  flocked  to  church  from  all  quarters. 
The  next  day  I  preached  at  Mill  House ;  on  Wednesday  at 
Cullompton,  and  on  Thursday  the  30th  in  the  market-house  at 
Tiverton. 

About  midnight  I  was  waked  by  loud  thunder,  which  con- 
tinued about  a  quarter  of  an  hour  at  Tiverton.  In  other  places, 
we  were  afterwards  informed,  it  continued  great  part  of  the 
night.  Yet,  by  comparing  various  accounts,  I  found  the  main 
shock  was  at  the  same  time  for  near  a  hundred  miles.  So  it 
seems  there  was  a  train  of  clouds  for  at  least  that  space,  which, 
by  an  electrical  touch,  were  all  discharged  at  once. 

Oct.  1,  Fri. — I  preached  at  Taunton1  and  Shepton  Mallet, 
and  on  Saturday  the  2nd  rode  on  to  Bristol.  In  the  two 
following  weeks  I  visited  as  many  as  I  could  of  the  societies  in 
the  country,  as  well  as  regulated  those  of  Bristol  and  Kingswood.2 

Sat.  16. — Being  informed  that  James  Oddie,3  coming  to 
Bristol,  was  stopped  at  Newport  by  a  pleuritic  fever,  I  went  to 
him  directly.  He  recovered  from  that  hour,  and  in  two  or  three 
days  followed  me  to  Bristol. 

The  next  week  I  went  to  many  of  the  societies  in  Somerset- 
shire. 

Mon.  25. — I  preached  at  one  in  the  shell  of  the  new  house  at 
Shepton  Mallet.4  In  digging  the  foundation  they  found  a  quarry 
of  stone  which  was  more  than  sufficient  for  the  house.     Thence 


1  For  a  graphic  description  of  a  former  engaged  in  trade,  he  continued  to  preach 
visit,  see  above,  vol.  iii.  p.  95.  and  lead  a  class  till  1788.     He  died  in 

2  On  Oct.  9  he  wrote  to  'A  Member  1790  (see  Laycock's  Methodism  in  the 
of  the  Society '( Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  278),  Gnat  Haworth  Round,  pp.  172-4, 
and  on  the  13th  to  the  Rev.  Samuel  360-5,  which  shows  reasons  for  ques- 
Furly  {Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  241).  tioning     the    judgement     of    Atmore's 

*  Oddie  travelled  as  an  itinerant  for  Memorial,  p.  300).     A  letter  from  him 

nineteen  years,  principally  in  Yorkshire,  to  Wesley  is  in  the   Arm.  Mag.   1780, 

and  was  long  and  honourably  connected  p.   335,  and  two  of  his  sermons  in  the 

with  Yarm  and  Keighley.     Although  he  Met  A.  Mag.  1799. 

retired  from  the  itinerancy  in  1771  and  4  See  Meth.  Mas;.  1827,  p.  284. 


53 2  John   Wesley's  Journal  toctma. 

I  rode  to  Wincanton.1  The  rain  prevented  my  preaching 
abroad,  so  I  willingly  accepted  the  offer  of  a  large  meeting- 
house, where  I  preached  to  a  crowded  audience  with  much 
satisfaction  ;  and  again  at  seven  in  the  morning. 

Abundance  of  rain  fell  in  the  night,  so  that  in  the  morning 
we  were  blocked  up,  the  river  which  runs  by  the  side  of  the 
town  not  being  fordable.  At  length  we  made  a  shift  to  lead  our 
horses  over  the  foot-bridge.  I  preached  at  Coleford  about  noon, 
and  at  Bristol  in  the  evening. 

Thur.  28. — One  who  had  adorned  the  gospel  in  life  and  in 
death  having  desired  that  I  should  preach  her  funeral  sermon,  I 
went  with  a  few  friends  to  the  house  and  sang  before  the  body 
to  the  room.  I  did  this  the  rather  to  show  my  approbation  of 
that  solemn  custom  and  to  encourage  others  to  follow  it.  As 
we  walked  our  company  swiftly  increased,  so  that  we  had  a  very 
numerous  congregation  at  the  room.  And  who  can  tell  but 
some  of  these  may  bless  God  for  it  to  all  eternity  ? 

Many  years  ago  my  brother  frequently  said  :  '  Your  day  of 
Pentecost  is  not  fully  come,  but  I  doubt  not  it  will,  and  you  will 
then  hear  of  persons  sanctified  as  frequently  as  you  do  now  of 
persons  justified.'  Any  unprejudiced  reader  may  observe  that  it 
was  now  fully  come.  And  accordingly  we  did  hear  of  persons 
sanctified,  in  London,  and  most  other  parts  of  England,  and  in 
Dublin,  and  many  other  parts  of  Ireland,  as  frequently  as  of 
persons  justified,  although  instances  of  the  latter  were  far  more 
frequent  than  they  had  been  for  twenty  years  before.  That 
many  of  these  did  not  retain  the  gift  of  God  is  no  proof  that  it 
was  not  given  them.  That  many  do  retain  it  to  this  day  is 
matter  of  praise  and  thanksgiving.  And  many  of  them  arc 
gone  to  Him  whom  they  loved,  praising  Him  with  their  latest 
breath  ;  just  in  the  spirit  of  Ann  Steed,  the  first  witness  in 
Bristol  of  the  great  salvation,  who,  being  worn  out  with  sickness 
and  racking  pain,  after  she  had  commended  to  God  all  that  were 
round  her,  lifted  up  her  eyes,  cried  aloud,  '  Glory  !  Hallelujah  ! ' 
and  died. 


1  See  E.M.P.  vol.  v.  p.   124;  Tuck's  Methodism    n  Frome,  p.  33. 


PART   THE   THIRTEENTH 
THE    JOURNAL 

FROM   OCTOBER    29,    1762,   TO   MAY   25,    1765 


533 


In  the  eighteenth  century  the  definition  of  truth  fired 
passion,   and  created  controversies  which  separated  chief 
friends,  just  as  in  previous  centuries  it  had  divided  nations 
into  hostile  camps.     Wesley  formulated  no  Creed.    His  so- 
called  '  Standard  Sermons,'  his  '  Notes  on  the  New  Testa- 
ment! and  his  '  conversations  '  on  doctrine  recorded  in  the 
Doctrinal  Minutes,  he  himself  regarded  as  the  exposition 
of  truths  defined  in  the  New  Testament  and  restated  in 
the  Articles  and  Homilies  of  the  Church  of  England.     His 
nearest  approach  to  a  newly  defined  doctrine  was  that  of 
Christian  Perfection.     But  this  also  he  placed,  and  justly 
placed,  in  the  same  category  as  Justification  by  Faith,  the 
Witness  of  the  Spirit,  and  Ike  New  Birth.      They  were 
all  alike  New    Testament  and  Church  of  England  doc- 
trines.    It  is  interesting  to  remember  that  his  own  study 
of  this  subject  began  coincident ly  with  his  own  religious 
awakening — with     Thomas   a    Kempis's    '  Imitation    of 
Christ?  Jeremy  Taylor's    '  Holy  Living'  and  William 
Law's  '  Christian  Perfection.'    Henceforth  each  springtide 
of  his  religious  life  and  work  was  invariably  associated 
with   this   doctrine.     His    influence  over  the  Methodist 
preachers,    and  through   them   over   the  people,   may  be 
measured  by  the  brightness  with  which  this  truth  shone 
in  the  pulpits,  the  class-meetings,  and  the  home  circles  of 
Methodism.     The  influence  oj  this  doctrine  on  the  religious 
life  of  the   times   may   be  gauged  by   the  popularity  oj 
hymns,  written  chiefly  by  Charles   Wesley,  for  Believers 
seeking  Full  Redemption ;    by  the  extremes  into  which 
unbalanced  minds  drifted,  and  by  the  fierce  controversies 
which  were  the  inevitable  result  of  such  extremes.    John 
Wesley  strove  to  guard  the  preachers  against  unscriptural 
and  extravagant  views.     His  own  opinions  on  the  subject 
underwent   modification    in  proportion   as  he    saw    the 
danger  of  mystical  and  the  immeasurable  value  of  practical 
interpretations.      '  Christian   Perfection '   won  for    him 
great  friendships    and   bitter    enmities.      It  did  more, 
perhaps,   than  anything  else  to   differentiate  Methodism 
from  other  religious  communities,  by  sharply  defining  its 
faith  and  intensifying  its  zeal. 


THE   JOURNAL 


Front  October  29,   1762,  to  May  25,   1765 

1762.  OCT.  29,  Fri. — I  left  Bristol,  and  the  next  day  came 
to  London. 

Nov.  r,  Mon. — I  went  down  to  Canterbury.  Here  I  seriously 
reflected  on  some  late  occurrences,  and,  after  weighing  the  matter 
thoroughly,  wrote  as  follows  : ' 

Without  any  preface  or  ceremony,  which  is  needless  between  you 
and  me,  I  will  simply  and  plainly  tell  what  I  dislike  in  your  doctrine, 
spirit,  or  outward  behaviour.  When  I  say  yours,  I  include  brother  Bell J 
and  Owen,  and  those  who  are  most  closely  connected  with  them. 


1  Obviously  to  Thomas  Maxfield.  For 
Fletcher's  opinion  see  his  letter  to 
Charles  Wesley,  Nov.  22,  1762  (Arm. 
Mag.  1795,  p.  49).  Henry  Moore  gives 
details  of  the  dispute  (Life  of  Wesley, 
vol.  ii.  pp.  218-31).  For  Maxfield 
Wesley  had  sincere  regard.  He  was  one 
of  the  first  Methodist  lay  preachers.  On 
Wesley's  recommendation,  Dr.  Barnard, 
Bishop  of  Derry,  ordained  him  in  Bath 
(where  the  bishop  was  staying  for  his 
health),  saying  :  '  Sir,  I  ordain  you  to 
assist  that  good  man,  that  he  may  not 
work  himself  to  death.'  After  some 
years  of  faithful  service  Maxfield  fell  into 
Antinomian  error,  and  gave  countenance 
to  dreamers  and  fanatics.  Wesley,  wish- 
ing to  save  him,  wrote  the  letter  here 
published. 

2  Bell,  Maxfield's  intimate  friend,  was 
a  corporal  in  the  King's  Life  Guards — a 
good  man  spoiled  by  visionaries  and 
crazy  ideas.  See  his  letter  to  Wesley, 
written  in  1761,  and  published  in  the 
Arm.  Mag.  1 780,  in  which  he  describes 
his  attainment  of  Christian   perfection. 


535 


Owen  was  his  ally,  and  an  enthusiast. 
They  met  in  Guilford's  house  in  a  society 
of  their  own  (see  Tyerman's  Life  oj 
Wesley,  vol.  ii.  pp.  433-4).  An  article 
entitled,  '  Thoughts  on  the  Work  of 
Sanctification,'  by  '  G.  C  (probably 
George  Cussons,  of  West  Street,  who 
came  to  London  from  Yorkshire  in  1769), 
gives  a  vivid  account  of  the  '  Great 
Revival'  and  of  what  followed  (Arm. 
Mag.  1 790,  p.  42)  : 

About  the  years  1760  and  1761  there  was  a 
great  work  of  God  in  London,  which  spread 
through  the  three  kingdoms.  Numbers  were 
freely  justified,  an  J  many  truly  cleansed 
from  all  filthiness  of  flesh  and  spirit,  and 
enabled  to  love  God  with  all  their  hearts.  . 
They  carried  the  fire  of  love  with  them  .  . 
and  were  astonishingly  useful. 

G.  C.  then  asks,  '  Could  these  pillars 
fall?  We  thought  not.  They  thought 
not.  Here  commenced  the  work  of  the 
devil.'  Without  naming  any  one,  he 
describes  the  Maxfield-Bell  fanaticism, 
of  which  he  was  '  an  eye  and  ear 
witness.'  They  even  professad  '  to  have 
the  gifts  of  healing,  and  in  London  did 


536  John   Wesley  s  Journal  [Nov.  rm. 

1.  I  like  your  doctrine  of  Perfection,  or  pure  love  ;  love  excluding 
sin  ;  your  insisting  that  it  is  merely  by  faith  ;  that  consequently  it  is 
instantaneous  (though  preceded  and  followed  by  a  gradual  work),  and 
that  it  may  be  now,  at  this  instant. 

But  I  dislike  your  supposing  man  may  be  as  perfect  as  an  angel  ; 
that  he  can  be  absolutely  perfect ;  that  he  can  be  infallible,  or  above 
being  tempted ;  or  that  the  moment  he  is  pure  in  heart  he  cannot  fall 
from  it. 

I  dislike  the  saying,  This  was  not  known  or  taught  among  us  till 
within  two  or  three  years.  I  grant  you  did  not  know  it.  You  have 
over  and  over  denied  instantaneous  sanctification  to  me ;  but  I  have 
known  and  taught  it  (and  so  has  my  brother,  as  our  writings  show) 1 
above  these  twenty  years. 

I  dislike  your  directly  or  indirectly  depreciating  justification,  saying 
a  justified  person  is  not  in  Christ,  is  not  born  of  God,  is  not  a  new 
creature,  has  not  a  new  heart,  is  not  sanctified,  not  a  temple  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  or  that  he  cannot  please  God,  or  cannot  grow  in  grace. 

I  dislike  your  saying  that  one  saved  from  sin  needs  nothing  more 
than  looking  to  Jesus ;  needs  not  to  hear  or  think  of  anything  else  ; 
believe,  believe,  is  enough ;  that  he  needs  no  self-examination,  no 
times  of  private  prayer ;  needs  not  mind  little  or  outward  things ;  and 
that  he  cannot  be  taught  by  any  person  who  is  not  in  the  same  state. 

I  dislike  your  affirming  that  justified  persons  in  general  persecute 
them  that  are  saved  from  sin ;  that  they  have  persecuted  you  on  this 
account ;  and  that  for  two  years  past  you  have  been  more  persecuted 
by  the  two  brothers  than  ever  you  was  by  the  world  in  all  your  life. 

2.  As  to  your  spirit,  I  like  your  confidence  in  God,  and  your  zeal 
for  the  salvation  of  souls. 

But  I  dislike  something  which  has  the  appearance  of  pride,  of  over- 
valuing yourselves  and  undervaluing  others  ;  particularly  the  preachers  ; 
thinking  not  only  that  they  are  blind,  and  that  they  are  not  sent  of  God, 
but  even  that  they  are  dead — dead  to  God,  and  walking  in  the  way  to 
hell ;  that  they  are  going  one  way,  you  another  ;  that  they  have  no  life 
in  them.  Your  speaking  of  yourselves  as  though  you  were  the  only 
men  who  knew  and  taught  the  gospel ;  and  as  if  not  only  all  the  clergy, 
but  all  the  Methodists  besides,  were  in  utter  darkness. 

I  dislike  something  that  has  the  appearance  of  enthusiasm,  over- 


really  attempt  to  heal  the  blind  and  to  minister      whom      they     chose.'     The 

raise  the  dead.     After   this   they  found  '  minister  '  was  Maxfield. 

fault   with    their    ministers.    .    .    .    This  '  But    Charles    Wesley,    in    reaction 

caused   a   division  .  .   .  two  hundred  of  from  the  extravagances  of  Maxfield  and 

these  strong  ones  left  the  weaker  to  shift  Bell,  modified  his  views  (Jackson's  Life 

for   themselves,  and   took  with  them  a  of  C.  Wesley,  vol.  ii.  p.  210). 


kov.  1762.]  Letter  to  Maxfield  537 

valuing  feelings  and  inward  impressions  ;  mistaking  the  mere  work  of 
imagination  for  the  voice  of  the  Spirit ;  expecting  the  end  without  the 
means  ;  and  undervaluing  reason,  knowledge,  and  wisdom  in  general. 

I  dislike  something  that  has  the  appearance  of  Antinomianism,  not 
magnifying  the  law,  and  making  it  honourable ;  not  enough  valuing 
tenderness  of  conscience  and  exact  watchfulness  in  order  thereto ; 
using  faith  rather  as  contradistinguished  from  holiness  than  as 
productive  of  it. 

But  what  I  most  of  all  dislike  is,  your  littleness  of  love  to  your 
brethren,  to  your  own  society ;  your  want  of  union  of  heart  with  them, 
and  bowels  of  mercies  toward  them  ;  your  want  of  meekness,  gentle- 
ness, longsuffering  ;  your  impatience  of  contradiction  ;  your  counting 
every  man  your  enemy  that  reproves  or  admonishes  you  in  love ;  your 
bigotry  and  narrowness  of  spirit,  loving  in  a  manner  only  those  that  love 
you  ;  your  censoriousness,  proneness  to  think  hardly  of  all  who  do  not 
exactly  agree  with  you  ;  in  one  word,  your  divisive  spirit.  Indeed,  I  do 
not  believe  that  any  of  you  either  design  or  desire  a  separation  ;  but 
you  do  not  enough  fear,  abhor,  and  detest  it,  shuddering  at  the  very 
thought.  And  all  the  preceding  tempers  tend  to  it  and  gradually 
prepare  you  for  it.  Observe,  I  tell  you  before.  God  grant  you  may 
immediately  and  affectionately  take  the  warning  ! 

3.  As  to  your  outward  behaviour,  I  like  the  general  tenor  of  your 
life,  devoted  to  God,  and  spent  in  doing  good. 

But  I  dislike  your  slighting  any,  the  very  least  rules  of  the  bands  or 
society  ;  and  your  doing  anything  that  tends  to  hinder  others  from 
exactly  observing  them.     Therefore, 

I  dislike  your  appointing  such  meetings  as  hinder  others  from 
attending  either  the  public  preaching  or  their  class  or  band  ;  or  any 
other  meeting  which  the  rules  of  the  society  or  their  office  requires  them 
to  attend. 

I  dislike  your  spending  so  much  time  in  several  meetings,  as  many 
that  attend  can  ill  spare  from  the  other  duties  of  their  calling,  unless  they 
omit  either  the  preaching,  or  their  class,  or  band.  This  naturally 
tends  to  dissolve  our  society,  by  cutting  the  sinews  of  it. 

As  to  your  more  public  meetings,  I  like  the  praying  fervently  and 
largely  for  all  the  blessings  of  God  ;  and  I  know  much  good  has  been 
done  hereby,  and  hope  much  more  will  be  done. 

But  I  dislike  several  things  therein  :  (1)  the  singing,  or  speaking,  or 
praying,  of  several  at  once  ;  (2)  the  praying  to  the  Son  of  God  only,  or 
more  than  to  the  Father ;  (3)  the  using  improper  expressions  in  prayer  ; 
sometimes  too  bold,  if  not  irreverent ;  sometimes  too  pompous  and 
magnificent,  extolling  yourselves  rather  than  God,  and  telling  Him  what 
you  are,  not  what  you  want;  (4)  using  poor,  flat,  bald  hymns  ;  (5)  the 
never  kneeling  at  prayer  ;  (6)  your  using  postures  or  gestures  highly 


53^  John   Wesley's  Journal  [hov.  xin. 

indecent;  (7)  your  screaming,  even  so  as  to  make  the  words  un- 
intelligible ;  (8)  your  affirming  people  will  be  justified  or  sanctified  just 
now  ;  (9)  the  affirming  they  are,  when  they  are  not ;  (10)  the  bidding 
them  say,  'I  believe';  (n)  the  bitterly  condemning  any  that  oppose, 
calling  them  wolves,  &c. ;  and  pronouncing  them  hypocrites,  or  not 
justified. 

Read  this  calmly  and  impartially  before  the  Lord,  in  prayer.  So 
shall  the  evil  cease,  and  the  good  remain  ;  and  you  will  then  be  more 
than  ever  united  to 

Your  affectionate  brother, 

John  Wesley. 
Canterbury,  Nov.  2,  1762. 

Sat.  6. — Having  had  more  satisfaction  here  than  I  had  had 
for  many  years,  I  cheerfully  commended  the  little  flock  to  God. 
In  the  way  to  London  I  read  The  Death  of  Abel}  That  manner 
of  writing,  in  prose  run  mad,  I  cordially  dislike  ;  yet,  with  all 
that  disadvantage,  it  is  excellent  in  its  kind,  as  much  above 
most  modern  poems  as  it  is  below  Paradise  Lost. 

I  had  hopes  of  seeing  a  friend  at  Lewisham  in  my  way2 ;  and 
so  I  did  ;  but  it  was  in  her  coffin.  It  is  well,  since  she  finished 
her  course  with  joy.     In  due  time  I  shall  see  her  in  glory. 

Mon.  8. — I  began  visiting  the  classes,  in  many  of  which  we 
had  hot  spirits  to  deal  with.  Some  were  vehement  for,  some 
against,  the  meetings  for  prayer  which  were  in  several  parts  of 
the  town.  I  said  little,  being  afraid  of  taking  any  step  which  I 
might  afterwards  repent  of.  One  I  heard  of  on  Friday,  and  five 
on  Saturday,  who,  if  I  did  not  act  as  they  thought  best,  would 
leave  the  society.  I  cannot  help  it.  I  must  still  be  guided  by 
my  own  conscience. 

Tues.  16. — I  preached  at  Deptford  and  Welling,  and 
Wednesday  the  17th  rode  on  to  Sevenoaks  ;  but  it  was  with 
much  difficulty  ;  for  it  was  a  sharp  frost,  and  our  horses  could 
very  hardly  keep  their  feet.  Here  likewise  I  found  several  who 
believed  that  God  had  cleansed  them  from  all  sin  ;  and  all 
of  them  (except  perhaps  one)  lived  so  that  one  might  believe 
them. 

1  By  Solomon  Gessner.     Probably  the  Gessner  was  at  once  painter  and  poet 

translation   by   Mary   Collyer,    London,  (  W.H.S.  vol.  iv.  p.  136). 

1761.     Another  translation,  by  Thomas  -  Probably  Mrs.  Dewal.     See  Methoa- 

Newcomb,   '  attempted  in  the  style  of  ism  in  Lewisham,  p.  20 
Milton."    See  Arm.  Mag.  1789,  p.  527. 


■ot.  1T»2  1 


Reply  to    Warburton 


539 


Fri.  19. — I  called  upon  Jane  Cooper,1  praising  God  in  the 
fires.  The  next  day  I  saw  her  for  the  last  time,  in  everything 
giving  thanks,  and  overcoming  all  by  the  blood  of  the  Lamb. 
A  day  or  two  after  she  fell  asleep. 

From  Monday  the  22nd  to  Friday  the  26th  I  was  employed 
in  answering  the  Bishop  of  Gloucester's  book.3 

Wed.24. — Being  determined  to  hear  for  myself,  I  stood  where  I 
could  hear  and  see,  without  being  seen.  George  Bell  prayed,  in 
the  whole,  pretty  near  a  hour.  His  fervour  of  spirit  I  could  not 
but  admire.  I  afterwards  told  him  what  I  did  not  admire ; 
namely,  (1)  his  screaming,  every  now  and  then,  in  so  strange  a 
manner,  that  one  could  scarce  tell  what  he  said  ;  (2)  his  think- 
ing he  had  the  miraculous  discernment  of  spirits  ;  and  (3)  his 
sharply  condemning  his  opposers. 

Thur.  25. — I  buried  the  remains  of  Jane  Cooper,  a  pattern 
of  all  holiness,  and  of  the  wisdom  which  is  from  above,  who 
was  snatched  hence  before  she  had  lived  five-and-twenty  years. 
In  good  time!  God,  who  knew  the  tenderness  of  her  spirit, 
took  her  away  '  from  the  evil  to  come.' 

Mon.  29. — I  retired,  to  transcribe  my  answer  to  Bishop 
Warburton.      My   fragments   of  time    I    employed    in   reading 


'  Wesley's  estimate  of  her  character 
and  of  her  writing  was  very  high.  The 
fragments  of  her  writing  which  remained 
after  her  death  he  published,  saying  of 
them,  '  Though  they're  little,  they  are 
golden  sands.'  He  told  her  story  and 
quoted  one  of  her  letters  in  his  Plain 
Account.  See  Green's  Bibliography, 
No.  225. 

*  Warburton  began  life  as  an  attorney. 
Of  his  most  famous  literary  work  the 
orthodox  said  it  was  more  dangerous  to 
scripture  truth  than  the  deistical  writers 
whom  it  attacked.  In  1762  he  published 
a  work  in  two  volumes,  The  Doctrine  oj 
Grace :  Or  the  Office  and  Operations  oj 
the  Holy  Spirit  Vindicated  from  the 
Insults  of  Infidelity  and  the  Abuses  oj 
Fanaticism.  Warburton  sent  the  manu- 
script to  Wesley  with  a  request  that  he 
would  notice  its  errors.  Wesley  says, 
'  After  correcting  the  false  readings, 
improper  glosses,  and  other  errors,  I  re- 


turned it,'  and  wrote  to  his  brother  Charles 
(Jan.  5,  1762,  Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  122). 
'  I  was  a  little  surprised  to  find  Bishop 
Warburton  so  entirely  unacquainted  with 
the  New  Testament  ;  and,  notwithstand- 
ing all  his  parade  of  learning,  I  believe 
he  is  no  critic  in  Greek.'  For  Wesley's 
reply  to  Warburton  see  Works,  vol.  ix. 
pp.  1 17-173.  Whitefield,  Andrews  of 
St.  Mary's  Hall,  Oxford,  John  Payne, 
and  Dr.  Leland  also  replied.  Sir  Leslie 
Stephen,  in  his  English  Thought  in  the 
Eighteenth  Century,  says,  '  If,  as  he 
elegantly  expressed  it,  "he  trimmed 
Hume's  jacket  "  for  not  believing  in  the 
miracles,  he  belaboured  Wesley  still 
more  vigorously  for  believing  they  are 
not  yet  extinct.'  See  also  Tyerman's 
Life  of  Wesley,  vol.  ii.  p.  492  ;  Green's 
Anti- Methodist  Publications,  No.  342, 
and  Boswell's  Life  of  Johnson,  p.  400, 
Fitzgerald's  Edition. 


54°  John   Wesley's  Journal  [Deci762. 

and  carefully  considering  the  lives  of  Magdalen  de  Pazzi,1 
and  some  other  eminent  Romish  saints.  I  could  not  but 
observe  (i)  that  many  things  related  therein  are  highly 
improbable.  I  fear  the  relators  did  not  scruple  lying  for  the 
Church,  or  for  the  credit  of  their  Order  ;  (2)  that  many  of  their 
reputed  virtues  were  really  no  virtues  at  all  ;  being  no  fruits  of 
the  love  of  God  or  man,  and  no  part  of  the  mind  which  was  in 
Christ  Jesus  ;  (3)  that  many  of  their  applauded  actions  were 
neither  commendable  nor  imitable  ;  (4)  that  what  was  really 
good  in  their  tempers  or  lives  was  so  deeply  tinctured  with 
enthusiasm  that  most  readers  would  be  far  more  likely  to 
receive  hurt  than  good  from  these  accounts  of  them. 

Dec.  4,  Sat. — At  the  desire  of  Mr.  Maxfield,  and  the 
seeming  desire  of  themselves,  I  baptized  two  foreigners  (one  of 
them  in  a  Turkish  habit),  who  professed  themselves  to  have 
been  Turks.2  On  this  I  then  remarked,  '  They  may  be  what  they 
profess,  but  I  wait  for  further  evidence.  Their  story  is 
extremely  plausible  ;  it  may  be  true,  or  it  may  not' 

Sun.  5. — To  take  away  one  ground  of  contention  from 
many  well-meaning  people,  in  preaching  on  '  The  kingdom  of 
heaven  is  like  a  grain  of  mustard-seed,'  I  endeavoured  to  show 
at  large  in  what  sense  sanctification  is  gradual,  and  in  what 
sense  it  is  instantaneous.  And  (for  the  present,  at  least)  many 
were  delivered  from  vain  reasonings  and  disputings. 

Monday  the  6th,  and  the  following  days,  I  corrected  the 
notes  upon  the  Revelation.  Oh  how  little  do  we  know  of  this 
deep  book  !  At  least,  how  little  do  I  know !  I  can  barely 
conjecture,  not  affirm  any  one  point  concerning  that  part  of  it 
which  is  yet  unfulfilled. 

Wed.  8. — I  had  a  second  opportunity  of  hearing  George 
Bell.  I  believe  part  of  what  he  said  was  from  God  (this  was 
my  reflection  at  that  time),  part  from  an  heated  imagination  ; 
but  as  he  did  not  scream,  and  there  was  nothing  dangerously 
wrong,  I  did  not  yet  see  cause  to  hinder  him. 


1  A  religious  Carmelite,  who  died  at  (London,  1687),  attempts  to  show  that 

Florence    in    1607,     was     beatified    by  there  was  nothing  but  what  was  natural 

Urban  VIII  and  canonized  by  Clement  in  her  miracles.     See  Vaughan's  Hours 

IX  (1669).     Her  biography,   written  in  with  the  Mystics,  vol.  ii.  p.  131. 
Italian  by  Vincenzio  Puccini,  and  trans-  2  See  below,  Jan.  5,  1763.     On  inves- 

lated  into  French  by  Dr.  Thomas  Smith  tigation  they  proved  to  be  impostors. 


d«o.  nag.]  In  London  541 

All  this  time  I  observed  a  few  of  our  brethren  were  diligently 
propagating  that  principle  that  none  can  teach  those  who  are 
renewed  in  love  unless  he  be  in  the  state  himself.  I  saw  the 
tendency  of  this,  but  I  saw  that  violent  remedies  would  not  avail.1 

Mon,  13. — I  mentioned  this  to  some  of  my  friends,  and  told 
them  what  would  be  the  consequence ;  but  they  could  not 
believe  it,  so  I  let  it  rest ;  only  desiring  them  to  remember  I 
had  told  them  before. 

Sun.  19. — From  Matt,  xviii.  3  I  endeavoured  to  show  those 
who  use  the  word  without  understanding  it  what  Christian 
simplicity  properly  is,  and  what  it  is  not.  It  is  not  ignorance  or 
folly  ;  it  is  not  enthusiasm  or  credulity.  It  is  faith,  humility, 
willingness  to  be  taught,  and  freedom  from  evil  reasonings. 

Tues.  21. — I  had  an  opportunity  of  looking  over  the  register 
of  St.  Luke's  Hospital 3 ;  and  I  was  surprised  to  observe  that 
three  in  four  (at  least)  of  those  who  are  admitted  receive  a 
cure.  I  doubt  this  is  not  the  case  of  any  other  lunatic  hospital 
either  in  Great  Britain  or  Ireland. 

Wed.  22. — I  heard  George  Bell  once  more,  and  was  con- 
vinced he  must  not  continue  to  pray  at  the  Foundery.  The 
reproach  of  Christ  I  am  willing  to  bear,  but  not  the  reproach  of 
enthusiasm,  if  I  can  help  it.' 


1  On  Dec.  1 1  he  wrote  to  his  brother  ■  A  '  relief '  insane-hospital,  Bethlehem 

respecting     the     Maxfield-Bell     revolt  :  (corrupted    to    Bethlem     and     Bedlam) 

'  For   eighteen  or  twenty  days   I  heard  having  become  inadequate.     It  stood  on 

with  both   ears,  but    rarely   opened  my  the  north  boundary  of  Moorfields  vis-h-vis 

mouth.'     He  thus  describes  the  meeting  to  Bedlam.      In  1 790  it  was  replaced  by 

in   Beech  Lane  ;   '  Like  a  bear-garden  ;  the  present  Hospital  in  Old  Street, 

full  of  noise,  brawling,  cursing,  swearing,  '  On  Dec.  23  he  wrote  to  his  brother 

blasphemy,  and  confusion.     Those  who  (Works,  vol.  xii.  p.  124).     Like  others  of 

prayed  were  partly  the  occasion  of  this,  the   series,  the  letter  seems   to   be  part 

by  their  horrid  screaming  and  unscriptural,  only    of    the    original.      The    Maxfield 

enthusiastic  expressions.'      He  removed  trouble  is  still  an  insoluble  mystery  as 

the   meeting   to   the    Foundery,  and  so  well  as  the  supreme  hindrance  to  perfect 

cured   the   screaming  and  delivered  the  success.    Referring  to  imaginary  converts 

society    from   worthless   numbers.      He  in  the  Revival,  he  says  :  '  Some  of  these, 

reminds    Charles   that    he    bought    the  and  two  or  three  others,  are  still  wild, 

ground    before    Kingswood    School    of  But  the  matter  does  not  stick  here.     I 

Margaret   Ward    with  his   own   money,  could   play   with   all    these,    if  Thomas 

and    pronounces    Bishop   Warburton    a  Maxfield  were  right.     He  is  malt  caput 

man   of  sense  ;    '  but   I  verily  think   he  et   rons   [the   head   and  fountain  of  the 

does    not    understand    Greek  '   ( Works,  evil] ;  so  inimitably  wrong-headed,  and  so 

yoI.  xii.  p.  123).  absolutely  unconvincible  ;  and  yet  (what 


542  John   Wesley  s  Journal 


[Dec.  1762. 


Sat.  25. — We  met  at  the  chapel  in  Spitalfields,  to  renew  our 
covenant  with  God  ;  and  He  did  indeed  appear  in  the  midst  of 
the  congregation,  and  answer  as  it  were  by  fire. 

Sun.  26. — That  I  might  do  nothing  hastily,  I  permitted 
George  Bell  to  be  once  more  (this  evening)  at  the  chapel  in 
West  Street,  and  once  more  (on  Wednesday  evening)  at  the 
Foundery.  But  it  was  worse  and  worse ;  he  now  spoke  as  from 
God  what  I  knew  God  had  not  spoken.  I  therefore  desired  that 
he  would  come  thither  no  more. 

I  well  hoped  this  would  a  little  repress  the  impetuosity  of  a 
few  good  but  mistaken  men  ;  especially  considering  the  case 
of  Benjamin  Harris,  the  most  impetuous  of  them  all.  A  week 
or  two  ago,  as  he  was  working  in  his  garden,  he  was  struck 
raving  mad.  He  continued  so  till  Tuesday,  December  21,  when 
he  lay  still  and  sensible,  but  could  not  speak  ;  till,  on  Wednesday 
morning,  his  spirit  returned  to  God. 

Fri.  31. — I  now  stood  and  looked  back  on  the  past  year  ; 
a  year  of  uncommon  trials  and  uncommon  blessings.  Abundance 
have  been  convinced  of  sin  ;  very  many  have  found  peace  with 
God  ;  and  in  London  only,  I  believe,  full  two  hundred  have  been 
brought  into  glorious  liberty.  And  yet  I  have  had  more  care 
and  trouble  in  six  months  than  in  several  years  preceding. 
What  the  end  will  be,  I  know  not  ;  but  it  is  enough  that  God 
knoweth. 


is  exceeding  Strange)  God  continues   to  who  believed  they  were  saved  from  sin,  and 

bless  his  labours.'     The  Short  History  of  war"ed  them  of  the  7<husiasm  that  was 

„._,...  ,.  breaking  in  by  means  of  two  or  three  weak, 

the  People  called  Methodists  at  this,  as  at  though  good  men)  who>  through  a  misc0n. 

other  points,  should  be  read.     Practically  strued  text  in  the  Revelation  .inferred  that  they 

it  is  another  version  of  the  Journal,  here  should  not  die.    This  gave  great  occasion  of 

condensed,  there  fuller,  but  always  worth  t"»™Pl»  to  'h°se  that  sought  occasion  ;  who 

,_,,,„.         ,      .  .   ,  rejoiced   as   though   they    had    found    great 

study.    The  following,  for  instance,  might  spoi)     This  year>  from  the  beginnj„g  to  the 

fairly  he  woven  into  the  Journal  text,  as  end,  was  a  year  never  to  be  forgotten.    Such 

another  resume  of  the  year  now  closing  :  a  season  I  never  saw  before.    Such  a  multi- 

tude   of   sinners   were   converted    from    the 

All  January,  i76*,God  cont.nued  to  work  error  of  their  w  jn  a„    parts    both    Q 

mightily,  not  only  in  and  about  London,  but  England   and    i,.e,and)  and    s0    many    were 

in    most    parts    of    England    and    Ireland.  filled  with  pure  love. 
February  5  I  met  at  noon,  as  usual,  those 


End  of  Vol.  IV 


Printed  by  Hatell,  Watson  &  Viney,  Ld.,  London  and  Aylesbury,  England. 


